Chicago White Sox Spring Training Defined by Southside Mindset


Ellie Williamson

March 13, 2026

The Chicago White Sox may have a bright future ahead of them, thanks to a young crop of talented prospects making a name for themselves in the minor leagues.

With MLB’s Spring Breakout Series approaching, a nationally televised showcase will share some of what the Chicago White Sox‘s future holds. It is becoming clear that the next competitive White Sox team is being built right now.

Spring Breakout: A National Stage for the Next Core

MLB’s Spring Breakout Series returns March 19–22, placing top prospects from every organization in standalone games broadcast across MLB Network and league platforms. Chicago’s prospects will face Los Angeles Dodgers prospects on March 21 at Camelback Ranch, with national streaming and MLB Network coverage highlighting the matchup. The purpose of the showcase is not the score of the game, but rather a way for the game’s next crop of potential stars to showcase their talents.

The White Sox have quite a few noteworthy players to keep an eye on for this year’s Spring Breakout Series.

Prospects to Watch

Left-handed pitcher Noah Schultz (MLB’s No. 49 Prospect)- The towering left-hander headlines Chicago’s pitching future. Schultz’s combination of extension, deception, and swing-and-miss breaking stuff gives him frontline starter potential. His development represents the organization’s renewed pitching identity.

Chicago hasn’t developed a true homegrown ace in years, and Schultz could change that. The 22-year-old reached Triple-A last season and could debut this year.

Outfielder Braden Montgomery (MLB’s No. 36 prospect)- Montgomery is one of the most dynamic athletes in the system. He blends power, defensive versatility and advanced plate discipline, and it is no surprise that he is one of the highest-rated prospects in baseball.

The White Sox lack long-term outfield anchors at the MLB level, and Montgomery profiles as a middle-order cornerstone.

Left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith (MLB’s No. 72 prospect)- Smith is a high-strikeout southpaw with a 60-grade fastball and slider. In an era where pitcher velocity is at the forefront, Smith gives the organization an arm to look forward to. Between Smith and Schultz, the core of the future White Sox rotation could already be in-house.

A Farm System Trending Upward

The World Baseball Classic pulled several notable White Sox players and prospects away from Cactus League action, including reliever Seranthony Domínguez, young catcher Kyle Teel and emerging infielder Sam Antonacci.

Rather than slowing development, those absences have reshaped spring training into an extended audition period for younger players.

Chicago’s depth players and prospects have received increased innings and plate appearances, accelerating evaluations for a coaching staff focused on long-term growth. The results have been encouraging. In Monday’s game against the Colorado Rockies, the White Sox erupted for an 11-run inning in a 12–3 win, highlighting organizational hitting depth and an aggressive offensive philosophy.

Only a few years removed from ranking near the bottom of Major League Baseball’s farm systems, Chicago now features multiple elite prospects.


According to MLB Pipeline’s 2026 rankings, the White Sox boast several Top-100 talents, including:

– Outfielder Braden Montgomery (MLB’s No. 36 prospect)

– Left-handed pitcher Noah Schultz — (MLB’s No. 49 prospect)

– Infielder Caleb Bonemer (MLB’s No. 61 prospect)

– Left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith (MLB’s No. 72 prospect)

– Shortstop Billy Carlson (MLB No. 73 prospect)

The organization now emphasizes pitching upside and athletic position players like shortstop Chase Meidroth. It is a philosophical shift from the veteran-heavy roster construction that defined the early part of this decade. The White Sox are looking to get younger and let a new generation of stars shape the future of their franchise.

Industry evaluators note that Chicago’s system is increasingly defined by high-ceiling arms and up-the-middle defenders, giving the club both trade flexibility and internal roster solutions. While national projections still place Chicago in rebuilding territory, several indicators suggest upward momentum. The club recently named emerging right-hander Shane Smith its Opening Day starter after a breakout 2025 season in which he led team starters in innings pitched, strikeouts, and WHIP.

That decision signals organizational confidence in younger arms rather than short-term veteran fixes. The White Sox are choosing development over patchwork. Recent camps have prioritized reps for prospects and non-roster invitees instead of veteran placeholders. They are aligning timelines across the system. The White Sox now possess multiple Top-100 prospects simultaneously, something absent during previous rebuild cycles.

Executives across baseball increasingly view the Spring Breakout games as an early indicator of organizational health. The White Sox entering with one of the more talent-rich rosters reflects how quickly perception around the franchise has shifted. If pitching prospects dominate and the athletic position-player group translates tools into production, Chicago’s rebuild may be closer to completion than standings suggest.

The White Sox are not contenders yet, but after three spring training games, it’s clear they are no longer directionless. Spring training taking place during the World Baseball Classic has highlighted organizational depth, and now the Spring Breakout game will offer a nationally televised glimpse of a franchise attempting to redefine itself through youth, pitching development and athleticism.

For a fan base searching for signs of progress, the future may already be taking the field in Glendale.

<

Luisangel Acuna



Key White Sox spring training stat must translate to 2026 regular season

The White Sox should continue their aggressive mentality on the bases into the regular season

By Noah Phalen

Mar 12, 2026

The story of the White Sox spring has been the impressive play by the offense. Entering Thursday night’s game against the Giants, the White Sox ranked in the top five in runs scored, and their .283 team batting average was tied for second in all of baseball. Players like Austin Hays, Luisangel Acuna, and Miguel Vargas have impressed early in camp. But one area in particular has stuck out to me, and it’s the White Sox aggressiveness on the bases in Cactus League action. The White Sox 31 stolen bases are the fourth-most in the majors, and they have led the league at various points this spring. This aggressiveness is a mindset I believe they should take with them into the regular season.

The top of the White Sox leaderboard in stolen bases looks balanced. Korey Lee, a catcher, currently leads the team with four. Infielders Sam Antonacci and Darren Baker, as well as outfielder Dru Baker are tied with three. Luisangel Acuna, Jarred Kelenic, Chase Meidroth, Everson Pereira, Lenyn Sosa, and Miguel Vargas are among the White Sox potential regulars with at least one stolen base. A lineup full of players who can steal a base will put more pressure on opposing pitchers to throw strikes and keep them distracted from worrying about the runner.

Italy infielder Sam Antonacci keeps turning heads in the WBC with his baseball IQ. That's why people call White Sox GM Chris Getz asking for him.

"If we have interest in acquiring a player from another team, the first player they always ask for is Sam."https://t.co/xotFrN5Rhn

Despite an aggressive mentality, the White Sox finished 24th in baseball in stolen bases last season. Their leading base-stealer, Luis Robert Jr, is no longer with the organization, but the team added several capable base-stealers in the offseason. Will Venable and the coaching staff have made a point of highlighting the team’s mindset and encouraging aggression when it comes to taking the extra base and turning a single into a double. They’ll certainly look to improve on their bottom-third finish and the early returns this spring have been promising. While players like Dru Baker, Darren Baker, and Sam Antonacci aren’t likely to make the Opening Day roster, they could be a factor at some point during the regular season.

Players like Colson Montgomery, Munetaka Murakami, and Andrew Benintendi aren’t likely to be much of a factor on the bases, but the players in front of them getting into scoring position frequently feels like a recipe for success for the offense. As Mariners first-baseman Josh Naylor showed in 2025, stealing bases is about more than just speed. Picking the right spots to run and learning how to effectively slide to avoid the tag are just as important, and new White Sox first base coach Jose Leger will have the task of teaching the technique to the club’s younger players.

It’s not a guarantee that the White Sox will be a top five team in base-running once the regular season gets underway, but it’s a promising start in that department. Several of the top offenses in baseball in 2025 ranked in the top few teams in stolen bases, and if the White Sox truly would like to become a top tier offense, it’s an excellent place to start.

<

Luisangel Acuna

Entering Tuesday’s game against the Athletics, Luisangel Acuna held a .412 average and a 1.121 OPS in the Cactus League, with a home run and two stolen bases. Acuna has played center field, second base, and shortstop early in camp and has driven the ball all over the field. According to TJStats, Acuna’s 97.3 mph average exit velocity ranks in the 97th percentile in all of baseball, and his 71.4% hard hit percentage is also in the 97th percentile. Compared to his 2025 numbers, where Acuna ranked in the 11th percentile in average exit velocity and the 26th percentile in hard-hit percentage, this is a significant improvement.

It’s only spring training, and the sample size is very small, but Acuna really struggled to pull the ball in the air last season, doing so in just 2.8% of his at bats last season. So far this spring, he’s pulled fly balls in 21.4% of his at bats, an improvement of nearly 20%. This represents a continuation of a strong showing in the Venezuelan Winter League and offseason adjustments the White Sox hitting staff has implemented in an effort to get Acuna driving the ball more.

The Score’s baseball insider Bruce Levine said on the radio that the White Sox envision Acuna batting near the top of their order and taking 500 at bats this season. He’ll likely never be the middle-of-the-order bat in their lineup that Luis Robert Jr was in his prime, but Acuna’s combination of speed and defensive versatility create a valuable player, and the White Sox believe there’s more in the tank than he’s shown on offense. Between Acuna, Everson Pereira, and Jarred Kelenic, the White Sox have a handful of young outfielders with upside that they hope can figure things out at the big league level in 2026. Top outfield prospect Braden Montgomery should also be a factor this season in Chicago.

Whether Luisangel Acuna’s early spring success will carry over to the regular season or not remains to be seen, but the 24 year-old is showing signs of some meaningful improvements. He’s slated to see significant time in the outfield and get every opportunity to prove he belongs at the big league level. If he does, White Sox fans can feel much better knowing their return for Luis Robert Jr. is stronger than expected.

<

Guardians traded Junior Caminero, and then he became an MLB superstar

This one hasn't aged well.

Billy Heyen

15 hours ago

The Cleveland Guardians were the team that brought Junior Caminero to professional baseball.

But as Caminero rises into a superstar for the Tampa Bay Rays in MLB and the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, all the Guardians have been able to do is watch and wish things had turned out differently.

Yep, the Guardians once traded Caminero away.

That's not a moment that has aged well.

The Guardians signed Caminero as a teenager out of the Dominican Republic in 2019.

After the COVID year altered prospect development, Caminero starred in the Dominican Summer League in 2021 with a .534 slugging percentage.

The Guardians apparently didn't see enough out of him there. They traded him away before giving him any more shots to shine in the Cleveland organization.

In November 2021, Cleveland traded Caminero to the Tampa Bay Rays for Tobias Myers.

Myers at that point had put up a 3.90 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A in 2021 with strong strikeout numbers.

He didn't stick around long, either. The Guardians traded Myers to the San Francisco Giants for cash in July 2022, less than a year after the initial deal.

Myers wound up with the Brewers, where he showed some promise at the MLB level in 2024 but spent almost the entirety of 2025 back in Triple-A. He was sent to the Mets this offseason.

As for Caminero? He hit 45 home runs in 2025 for the Rays and just was a dominant for in the WBC.

He's just 22 and looks to be one of the best home run hitters in baseball.

Cleveland's lineup sure could use a guy like that.

<

Blue Jays update shows Guardians were smart to get out of Shane Bieber business

By Henry Palattella

1 hour ago

At this time last year, Shane Bieber was one of the biggest wild cards on the Guardians’ roster. While he had re-upped with the Guardians on a one-year, $14 million during the previous offseason, he was still working his way back from the Tommy John surgery.

Bieber never ended up appearing for the Guardians in 2025, as he spent the first half of the season continuing his rehab before Cleveland’s front office traded him to the Blue Jays at the deadline for pitching prospect Khal Stephen.

And although he returned mid-way through the season and pitched well for the Blue Jays down the stretch, his checkered injury history popped up once again this offseason due to shoulder fatigue.

The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon was asked about that injury during a reader Q&A he had earlier in the week, where he said that he would be “surprised” if Bieber pitched for the Blue Jays in April as he works his way back from that shoulder fatigue.

While his injury situation isn’t as severe as it was last year when he was recovering from Tommy John, Bieber having his short-term future adjusted due to injury should be nothing new to Guardians fans.

Former Guardian Shane Bieber will start the season on the injured list for the Blue Jays

Bieber’s injury resulted in a huge ripple effect for the Blue Jays that ended up changing the free agency landscape. Bieber surprised everyone in baseball by picking up his player option not long after last season ended, and it quickly became clear that he did so because of shoulder fatigue.

As a result, the Blue Jays spent the offseason retooling their starting rotation, starting with signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year contract. And although they have more starters than spots, they may need to rely on an unheralded arm in Eric Lauer thanks to Bieber being unable to go at the start of the season.

Meanwhile the Guardians are navigating a rotation crunch of their own without having to worry about Bieber hanging over it. Don’t get us wrong; having Shane Bieber on your roster is a good thing. But you also can’t bank on him making 30+ starts at this point in his career, which is why the Blue Jays spent so much money on their rotation this offseason.

The Guardians wouldn’t be able to do that. So, instead of trying to fit Bieber into their rotation, they just decided to turn the rotation over to the young kids.

It worked. Not only have Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams become aces, but Joey Cantillo, Parker Messick and Slade Cecconi have all begun to turn into interesting and talented arms

Bieber will always be held in high regard in Cleveland for what he did during his time with the Guardians, but the front office was smart to trade him when they did.

<

Pipeline

Hernandez leaves jaws on floor with 102.4 mph 'beam of light' on first pitch

March 20th, 2026

Dawn Klemish

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Seth Hernandez has never been far away. While the Major Leaguers held court at LECOM Park, he toiled away the spring at Pirate City just a few miles up the road.

There’s no official record of him hitting triple digits on the radar there, only whispers and wide eyes. When the right-hander’s 12-6 curveball cut, it was up to his Minor League teammates to provide the hand-over-mouth, “Did he really just do that?” reactions. When Hernandez stymied a batter with a changeup that a 19-year-old just shouldn’t already have such a feel for, he did so in relative shadow.

Hernandez stepped out from behind the curtain for the first time on Friday night, though, and gave Pirates fans their first glimpse of the future.

A lot like his fastball, it is fast, it is dirty and it will be here before you know it.

Just ask Tigers prospect Max Clark.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Fn1xbwr0 ... ture=share

When Hernandez took the mound at LECOM Park to start Pittsburgh's 8-7 Spring Breakout game win vs. Detroit, it was his first time in front of a crowd since the Pirates selected him sixth overall in the 2025 MLB Draft. Was he amped up? Maybe just a little: The first offering from Pittsburgh’s No. 3 prospect (No. 29 in MLB) blazed past Clark at 102.4 mph. Although the plate appearance ultimately ended in a walk, five of Hernandez’s six offerings to Clark came at 100 mph or faster.

That first one left Clark -- baseball’s No. 10 prospect -- with wide eyes as he stepped out of the box, mouthed “what the,” smiled and then nodded his appreciation at Hernandez.

“Amped up or not, it's legit stuff,” said Clark, who was interviewed by MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo in the dugout in the bottom of the first inning. “I've been following Seth since high school. I've been waiting for it; I was excited that he's getting the start.

“I knew he was gonna be fired up. And that first pitch at 102 did look a little bit like a beam of light, I'll tell you that.”

Hernandez made sure to empty his bag of tricks as the Bucs’ top prospects hosted their Tigers counterparts, with 11 of his 21 pitches touching triple digits -- and three more clocked at 99-plus.

“It's overpowering, and it's electric,” said High-A Greensboro bench coach Phillip Wellman, who managed the Bucs' prospects in the contest. “... He's big, he's strong and the first time he cuts loose a fastball, everybody's gonna go, 'Whoa.'"

Hernandez lost his first two Detroit batters to six-pitch walks -- and the last three pitches of each at-bat lit up the radar at 100-plus mph. The third Tiger, Jack Penney, swung through a 1-2 curveball that looked like it fell off a table. Hernandez coaxed his final opponent of the night, Detroit's No. 25 prospect Eduardo Valencia, to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to escape the frame unscathed.

"We have seen him throw on the back field. We hadn't seen 102 before, but certainly saw upper-90s, and the feel for the breaking balls and his changeup, which is nasty,” Pirates director of coaching and player development Michael Chernow said during an in-game interview on the Pirates' telecast. “For a 19-year-old kid, the feel to be able to turn that thing over is special."

Two years ago, a kid named Paul Skenes was the marquee arm during Spring Breakout 2024. Last year, Bubba Chandler did the honors. Hernandez was humbled to be third in that line, but he was also quick to point out that he’s far from the end of it.

“Man, to be on a list with those guys is pretty special,” Hernandez said. "Trying to get to Pittsburgh as fast as I can, to be on the same roster as those guys. …

“Our pitching system is just absolutely unbelievable. The Pirates know [how to] develop pitchers, and they know to develop some great ones.”

Whether knee-buckling curve, low-80s changeup or straight fire down the pipe, each of Hernandez’s pitches drew eager responses from the crowd, praise from the broadcast and befuddlement from the Tigers.

Wellman -- a veteran coach of nearly four decades -- was no less impressed.

“It's hard to hit them both, obviously,” Wellman said of the pitches. “When you're throwing almost 100, and then you drop a changeup in there, it's good. I saw him last week [pitching at Minor League camp], and it's our guy, so I hate to say this, but we had no chance.


<

Top Cardinals prospect JJ Wetherholt makes opening day roster


The Associated Press

March 23, 2026

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — JJ Wetherholt is heading to the majors.

Cardinals director of baseball operations Chaim Bloom told reporters on Monday that Wetherholt, the seventh pick in the 2024 amateur draft out of West Virginia, will be on the opening day roster.

The 23-year-old shortstop hit .212 with two home runs and seven RBIs this spring for St. Louis.

Wetherholt is coming off a strong 2025 in which he hit a combined .306 with 19 home runs, 79 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in 138 games split between Double-A and Triple-A.

Bloom also said the Cardinals will take infielders Jose Fermin and Thomas Saggese and outfielder Nathan Church with them to St. Louis for Thursday’s season opener against Tampa Bay.

First Round

1. Guardians: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
Pick value: $10,570,600
Signing bonus: $8,950,000

2. Reds: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
Pick value: $9,785,000
Signing bonus: $9,250,000

3. Rockies: Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia
Pick value: $9,070,800
Signing bonus: $9,250,000

4. Athletics: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
Pick value: $8,370,800
Signing bonus: $7,000,000

5. White Sox: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
Pick value: $7,763,700
Signing bonus: $8,000,000

6. Royals: Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
Pick value: $7,213,800
Signing bonus: $7,500,000

7. Cardinals: JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia
Pick value: $6,823,700
Signing bonus: $6,900,000

8. Angels: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
Pick value: $6,502,800
Signing bonus: $4,997,500

9. Pirates: Konnor Griffin, SS, Jackson Prep School (MS)
Pick value: $6,216,600
Signing bonus: $6,532,025

10. Nationals: Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest
Pick value: $5,953,800
Signing bonus: $5,150,000

<

News

Detroit Tigers Top Prospect Kevin McGonigle Skips Triple-A, Makes MLB Roster


Julian Guilarte - World Baseball Network

March 25, 2026

The Detroit Tigers’ top prospect, Kevin McGonigle, has won the starting shortstop job and will start the season in the Major Leagues according to the Tigers X account.

​McGonigle spoke with World Baseball Network during spring training in Lakeland, Florida, on Feb. 20.

​“I’m just here to get better. 
I’m here to learn from the older guys and, you know, I feel like everything will fall into place at the right time. So I’m not really looking that far ahead right now. I worried about spring, just getting better and better each day. 
So, just being prepared for whatever they need me to do next year coming up,” McGonigle said of competing for an MLB roster spot.

It would seem he did everything he had to do and was able to learn from his big league teammates, such as Gleyber Torres and Javier Báez.

​“Just sitting back and watching how they attack each day and how they work out in the infield and their approach and the batter’s box is really special to learn from them,” McGonigle added. “And, you know, like I said, trying to get as much info out of all those guys as I can.”

He had two home runs, six RBIs, 11 walks, and nine strikeouts, with an OPS of .888 in 44 spring training at-bats.

It wasn’t always an easy road for McGonigle, who, at 5-foot-9, is an undersized played at the professional level, not to mention in MLB. McGonigle even had some doubts himself when he struggled with Double-A Erie last season.

“Um, I think I’d say when I first got called up to AA last year. I struggled a little bit, but I got out of that little slump ahead and, you know, I just keep getting better, better each day, you know, get through those slumps and it all falls in place,” McGonigle said.

He started off his Double-A career 2-for-15 and was 7-for-38 – that’s a .184 batting average – before he hit his first Double-A home run. He ended up locking in and finished his Double-A season with 12 home runs, 41 RBIs, seven stolen bases, and an OPS of .919 in 169 at-bats.

“Getting here every day and giving it my all, uh, being prepared for the season and, uh, you know, building relationships with all these guys I think, is uh, the main thing I’m most proud of this spring,” McGonigle said.

McGonigle was born in Media, Pa., and grew up a Philadelphia Phillies fan, idolizing Chase Utley, to whom he has been compared to by some baseball analysts, including ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

“Chase, he was always my favorite player, so watching him growing up. How he played the game and how, you know, he just went out and played it hard every inning, every pitch. So just kind of trying to play it like him,” McGonigle said.

McGonigle played in the Arizona Fall League and won the AFL MVP this past November. He also started playing other positions out there, such as third base and second base.

“I was very, very happy with the opportunity to go out there and play. With a few of the other guys from the organization, and yeah, it was a great time. More baseball, I was practicing at other infield spots,
So yeah, it was definitely a good experience,” McGonigle told World Baseball Network.

“That would mean everything. You know, that’s a dream of mine to go help a team win a World Series, and I think the Tigers are in a great spot with that, and I’m looking forward to hopefully one day being able to help them out,” McGonigle said when asked what a call-up to the Tigers would mean for him in the AFL last November.

McGonigle mentioned “Could You Be Loved” by Bob Marley as a potential walk-up song selection for his Major League debut.

The lights will turn on for McGonigle and the Tigers against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on March 26 when their regular season officially begins.

<

21-year-old Kevin McGonigle has 3 hits in his first 3 at-bats in electric debut for Tigers

SAN DIEGO(AP) — Kevin McGonigle quickly proved that the Detroit Tigers' made the right call by putting him on their opening day roster.

The 21-year-old rookie hit the first big league pitch he saw for a bases-loaded, two-run double in the four-run first inning against San Diego on Thursday. He kept on going, getting hits in his next two at-bats as well as scoring his first big league run.

McGonigle was the youngest Tigers player named to an opening day roster since Omar Infante in 2003.

And then he became the youngest Tigers player with three hits in his debut since Shannon Penn on April 28, 1995.

McGonigle kept the line moving as the Tigers roughed up Nick Pivetta in support of two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

Batting sixth, he came up for the first time as a big leaguer with the bases loaded, one out and the Tigers up 1-0 on a sunny, 74-degree afternoon at Petco Park. He drove the first pitch he saw down the right field line to bring in Colt Keith and Riley Greene for a 3-0 lead.

McGonigle followed that with a fly ball off the top of the right field wall in the third and hustled into second for another double to move Spencer Torkelson to third base. They both scored on Parker Meadows' single to left field.

He beat out an infield single to shortstop in the fifth and was aboard for Dillon Dingler's homer that made it 8-0.

McGonigle, who started at third base, finally made an out in the seventh when he popped up to third baseman Manny Machado in shallow left.

A first-round pick in the 2023 draft, McGonigle had a hot spring that allowed him to skip Triple-A after playing in just 46 games in AA last season.

<

McGonigle don't need no stink'n triple A

<

Wetherholt clobbers first HR 425 feet to dead center

5 minutes ago

ST. LOUIS -- Though nothing magical happened in his first Major League at-bat, Cardinals' No. 1 prospect JJ Wetherholt didn’t wait long to give the sea of red something to cheer about in his big-league debut in Thursday's 9-7 Opening Day win.

After blooping a pop fly to Rays center fielder Cedric Mullins to lead off the game for the Cardinals, Wetherholt launched a solo home run in his second plate appearance to lead off the bottom of the third, sending a Drew Rasmussen offering onto the grassy knoll of the batter’s eye in center field. The ball jumped off his bat at an exit velocity of 101.7 mph and traveled a Statcast-projected 425 feet. A Cardinal hasn't homered in his Major League debut on Opening Day in 69 years, since Bobby Smith did it against the Cincinnati Redlegs at Crosley Field on April 16, 1957.

Rasmussen got ahead in the count on the 23-year-old infielder by pounding him away, but on the 0-2 pitch, Wetherholt made the adjustment on an outside 94.5 mph four-seam fastball, connecting for his first big league hit and home run in one fell swoop. The swing gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. Wetherholt drove in his second run with a sacrifice fly to the warning track in right in the sixth inning, cutting the Cards' deficit to 7-6.

Wetherholt had forced his way onto the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster with an impressive Spring Training camp. When manager Oliver Marmol boiled it down in constructing his lineup for Thursday's opener, Wetherholt had done more than simply earn a spot -- he had earned the first one.

“I think it’s fun, man,” Marmol said before Thursday’s game. “Kid’s going to debut. We are in a new chapter of the overall story of the Cardinals. Pretty damn cool for him to be able to get in the box and lead off for us.”

Marmol penciled Wetherholt’s name atop St. Louis' batting order for the opener against the Rays at Busch Stadium.

Marmol said that Wetherholt becoming a realistic candidate to be the Cardinals’ leadoff hitter was a process that began coming into focus pretty early during camp.

“Just having an idea of what the options were,” Marmol explained. “You’re more so judging the personality of, if it goes well, if it doesn’t go well, how will he handle it? How will others handle it? What the options are. The pros and cons of all of it.”

Through this point in his professional career, Wetherholt’s plate profile embodies the qualities any manager would like to see at the top of a lineup card. He carried a .421 on-base percentage across Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis last season, striking out just 73 times in 496 plate appearances.

During Grapefruit League play this spring, Wetherholt kept it up, posting a .386 OBP in 44 plate appearances.

The decision to lead him off to open the 2026 campaign acknowledged Wetherholt’s skill set -- an on-base threat with strong plate discipline -- and weighed it against the reality of the pressures that accompany a big-league debut for any young player. But Marmol didn’t come by his choice flippantly.

“I don’t think you just do it with anybody just to be romantic about it,” Marmol said. “I think you have to really weigh whether they can handle it. And I think he can.”

President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom echoed the sentiment, equating his answer to questions about Wetherholt’s readiness for the Opening Day roster to how Marmol likely viewed the lineup decision.

“He never gave us any reason to think that he shouldn’t be there [on the Opening Day roster],” Bloom said. “And I think that’s true, too, about where he’s hitting in the lineup. So, it should be fun.”

Winn cleaning up

Another spot in the batting order drawing attention Thursday is Masyn Winn’s presence as the cleanup hitter. Marmol described Winn’s placement as a way to prioritize the club’s most productive hitter from a year ago, Iván Herrera, in the two-hole. That choice serves to break up the lefties, Wetherholt and Alec Burleson, who bats third. Herrera led the team with an .837 OPS in 2025.

Marmol likes the on-base acumen of Wetherholt and Herrera setting the table ahead of Burleson and Winn, a duo that puts the ball in play and avoids the punchout.

“Unconventional when you think of Masyn in the four [spot],” Marmol acknowledged. “But at the same time, those guys get on ahead of him, this is a guy that’s hard to double up on the ground, makes a lot of contact and has the ability to drive in some runs. So I like that part of it.

“We’ll take a look at it and see if there are adjustments to be made. But I like it.”

<

News

Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle hits tiebreaking, 2-run single in 5-2 win against Padres

The Associated Press

March 28, 2026

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rookie Kevin McGonigle hit a tiebreaking, two-run single with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning to continue his dazzling start and lead the Detroit Tigers to a 5-2 win against the San Diego Padres on Friday night.

Kenley Jansen struck out the side in the ninth on 11 pitches in his Tigers debut for his 477th career save, which leads all active pitchers and is fourth all-time.

The 21-year-old McGonigle, who was robbed of his first home run by center fielder Jackson Merrill in the second, worked a 10-pitch at-bat against Wandy Peralta in a lefty-on-lefty matchup that culminated with a single to right field that brought in Gleyber Torres and Colt Keith for a 4-2 lead.

McGonigle had a brilliant debut on Thursday. He hit the first big league pitch he saw for a bases-loaded, two-run double, and finished 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored in an 8-2 win. After just 46 games last season in Double-A, the multiposition infielder made Detroit’s major league roster with a strong spring that allowed him to skip Triple-A entirely.

Padres reliever Jeremiah Estrada (0-1) couldn’t hold a 2-1 lead in the eighth. He walked the bases loaded before Kerry Carpenter scored on Riley Greene’s single to shortstop. After striking out Spencer Torkelson, Estrada made way for Peralta.

Merrill made a sensational leaping catch to rob McGonigle of a homer in the second, getting his glove well above the wall just in front of the 396 sign.

Framber Valdez allowed two runs, one earned, and seven hits in six innings while striking out five and walking one in his Tigers debut. Valdez, the longtime Astros ace, signed last month.

Enmanuel De Jesus (1-0) got the win.

Ramón Laureano hit an RBI double off Valdez with two outs in the sixth for a 2-1 Padres lead.

Catcher Luis Campusano went 2-for-3 in the Padres’ first challenges via the Automated Ball-Strike System.

Up next
Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (8-15, 4.64 ERA in 2025) and Padres RHP Randy Vásquez (6-7, 3.84) are set to start Saturday night’s series finale. Both teams have Sunday off.

<

Pipeline

How does Wetherholt top a debut HR? With his 1st career walk-off

22 minutes ago

ST. LOUIS -- After an epic first impression on Opening Day, JJ Wetherholt outdid himself in the second game of his big league career.

The Cardinals’ top prospect walked off the Rays on Saturday at Busch Stadium after a wild ending to what had been a pitching duel for most of the afternoon. In the bottom of the 10th inning, Wetherholt slashed a two-run single to right field to give St. Louis a 6-5 win and save them from blowing a six-inning hittless outing from Michael McGreevy. He became just the second Cardinals player with a walk-off hit in his first or second MLB game in at least the divisional era (1969), joining Curt Ford (June 22, 1985).

“I was just going up ready to hit, honestly,” Wetherholt said moments after celebrating with his teammates. “I was in the zone, singing my walk-up song, it’s a good spot to be. Just trying to lock in to the situation and do anything it took to help the team win.”

Wetherholt’s bookend singles got the scoring rolling for the Cardinals. The second baseman led off the game with an infield single, swiped second base and scored on an RBI single from Alec Burleson. Burleson used a great jump to swipe second base, as well, allowing Nolan Gorman to put the Cardinals up 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning.

McGreevy was on a roll himself, as the right-hander struck out five and kept the Rays in check until Junior Caminero logged their first hit in the seventh against reliever Riley O'Brien. McGreevy became the first Cardinals starter to throw a no-hit bid of six or more innings in a season debut since Daniel Ponce De Leon in what was his MLB debut on July 23, 2018. He threw seven no-hit innings vs. the Reds.

The Cardinals' offense was able to add two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on an RBI double smoked off the bat of Iván Herrera and a sacrifice fly from Burleson. But with a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, things quickly began to unravel for St. Louis.

Matt Svanson followed up his shaky Opening Day performance by allowing three runs for the second straight outing, while Ryne Stanek allowed an RBI single from Nick Fortes to tie things up at four apiece.

Following a 1-2-3 showing in the bottom of the ninth from the Cardinals’ offense, Stanek immediately allowed the automatic runner to score on a Yandy Díaz single to right-center field to give the Rays a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the 10th.

And, like clockwork, the Cardinals punched right back as they did in the opener. Jordan Walker drew a lead-off walk, which Victor Scott II followed by bunting over both Walker and automatic runner Nathan Church. Wetherholt had runners at second and third.

“I’ve seen him do it a thousand times; it’s part of his game,” Wetherholt said of Scott’s crucial sacrifice bunt. “That’s my brother. It’s just so fun to be on the same field as him. It’s a blessing. He does everything well, and just put us in a great spot.”

Wetherholt needed just one pitch to secure the victory, ripping a 97.1 mph single through the infield and securing St. Louis' series victory.

The Cardinals continue to rave about not only the talent their top prospect possesses, but the confidence he carries even as a rookie. Wetherholt knows he’s capable of contributing now, and he clearly didn’t shy away from the moment in just his 10th MLB plate appearance.

“He’s not going to make much of any situation, and I love that about him,” manager Oliver Marmol said. “He doesn’t scare, and his personality really lends itself well to do this for a long time. Some really good at-bats. That situation there, he stays within himself and does exactly what the game is calling for. It was perfect.”

Perfect indeed, and the Cardinals will ride their perfect record into a chance to sweep Tampa Bay on Sunday afternoon.

<

2 games, 2 walk-offs for Blue Jays ... for the first time ever!

7 minutes ago

TORONTO -- Another night, another walk-off, another reason to believe the Blue Jays could do it all again.

The Blue Jays pulled Saturday’s 8-7 win over the A’s back from the grave for their second celebration in less than 24 hours. This time, Ernie Clement was the walk-off hero with a line drive into left-center in the bottom of the 11th, following in the footsteps of Andrés Giménez on Opening Day.

“Ernie! Ernie! Ernie!” chants rained down as the Blue Jays spilled onto the field to mob Clement.

This is the first time a team has opened its season with back-to-back walk-off wins since 2014, when the Tigers and Pirates both pulled it off. The Blue Jays had never done it before.

Why not add another unlikely hero, too? It’s not often the walk-off hero gets overshadowed, but it’s not often we see an MLB debut like Spencer Miles just had.

Miles, the Blue Jays’ fascinating Rule 5 Draft pick from this past offseason, came in and pitched a clean top of the 11th to set the stage. Miles is 25, but due to multiple surgeries and missed time, he’d never pitched above Single-A and had only thrown 14 2/3 innings in the Minor Leagues.

Miles, who ended up earning the win, was welcomed to the big leagues with a comebacker, which he turned into a well-executed rundown, then picked up his first career MLB strikeout against Max Muncy. The adrenaline was pumping, too, as Miles topped 98 mph multiple times and ended the inning by getting Denzel Clarke to fly out, which earned a roar that must have felt 1,000 times louder than anything he’s heard in pro ball.

( Gimenez 4-5 hitting 750. )

( Lotta "firsts" after two games on the season !! )


<

Murakami strikes twice, homers in 2nd straight game to start career

27 minutes ago

MILWAUKEE -- Two Major League games, two home runs for Munetaka Murakami.

The White Sox first baseman connected off Chad Patrick on the first pitch of the fourth Saturday. The Statcast-projected 409-foot blast made the left-handed-hitting slugger the second Japanese-born former NPB player to homer in each of his first two MLB games, joining Kenji Johjima. He’s also the first player in White Sox history to homer in each of his first two career games.

Murakami connected in the ninth inning of Thursday’s 14-2 Opening Day loss, leading off against Jake Woodford. His home run Saturday tied him with a long list of former players at two blasts for his White Sox career, including general manager Chris Getz, who brought Murakami to the White Sox via a two-year, $34 million deal.

Along with the two long balls, Murakami has walked three times in the first two games, and is settling in at first base -- robbing Jake Bauers with a diving play in the bottom of the fifth inning. His first career strikeout came against southpaw Aaron Ashby to strand two runners in the fifth.

<

2 former Guardians start season as heroes for Blue Jays

Billy Heyen

2 hours ago

It's often a thing cited by Cleveland sports fans, that their players seem to perform better when they go elsewhere.

The Toronto Blue Jays sure have gone after former Guardians, which certainly has to be somewhat by design given Mark Shapiro's Cleveland past and Toronto present in the front office.

Andres Gimenez walks it off in Blue Jays win

And to start the 2026 MLB season, it's been a great thing for the Blue Jays.

On Friday night, Andres Gimenez delivered the walk-off hit to help Toronto start the season 1-0.

On Saturday night, it was Ernie Clement with a walk-off hit of his own to make the Blue Jays 2-0.

Both were previously players for Cleveland.

Gimenez was the more noted Guardians player, a multi-year regular.

Clement was a fourth-round draft pick by Cleveland out of Virginia, but couldn't stick there, or with the Athletics, before latching on with the Blue Jays.

Now, Gimenez starts at shortstop with Clement at second base for the reigning American League champions.

They're not alone, either, with the likes of Shane Bieber and Myles Straw also a part of Toronto's roster.

The Guardians would sure enjoy having those guys back on their team, but at this point, that ship has sailed its way to Toronto.

<

SATURDAY'S BEST IN 60 SECONDS


https://www.mlb.com/video/real-fast-sat ... st-popular


<