Preseason Prep – March 21, 2026
Troubles in Toronto
Trey Yesavage, with a shoulder impingement, is expected to be out until at least Apr 14. The overarm, overhead delivery for the RHP has either caused wear after his postseason surge, or the Blue Jays just wanna shelve him to limit IP. While he didn’t qualify for IP in his end of year promotion in 2025, but his high chase and whiff rate up around 35% was spectacular and his Groundball rate was super high as well, up at 56% but in VERY limited IP. Keep a close eye on his injury comeback, and barring any setbacks, he should be a nice SP. Tough to predict on draft day, however. Shane Bieber SP (Forearm) is expected to be out until at least Apr 30. Shane Bieber had a sneaky good 2025 season, 3.57 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. All of this bolstered by a 12.2% SwStr% and a 48.2% GB%, putting him near the top in the league. However, this is a forearm injury that tends to climb upwards on the arm…big risk.
Jose Ramirez 3B CLE
Ramirez returned for the first time since a left-shoulder issue caused him to depart a game last Sunday. Ramirez immediately jacked a home run in his first plate appearance, causing a sigh of relief for those hoping he will be back for Opening Day. With a K% of 11.0% and a BB% of 9.8%, his .285 batting average is very sustainable, as is the considerable track record of success. Draft early, draft often and breathe a nice sigh of relief if you already drafted him.
Moises Ballesteros C CHC
“Ballesteros was informed Friday that he will be on the Cubs’ Opening Day roster, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports. Ballesteros impressed in his MLB debut last season, slashing .298/.394/.474 across 66 plate appearances. Ballesteros has the inside track to begin the season as the Cubs’ DH, Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya are projected to split the duties behind the plate. While Ballesteros can give Cubs a third catching option and added depth behind Michael Busch at first base, he is currently in line to get the bulk of his playing time through the designated hitter role.”
Caleb Durbin 3B BOS
Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports Durbin will be the Red Sox’s starting third baseman. Manager Alex Cora indicated earlier in camp that Durbin slashed .256/.334/.387 with 11 homers and 18 steals in 136 regular-season games during his rookie season, and Caleb Durbin’s elite K% of 9.9% (league: 23.6%) points to a strong floor. At the plate, his BABIP of .265 (league: .276) suggests his constant contact could lead to a repeat of 2025 or even a bump in his overall power numbers for 2026.
Mike Trout OF LAA
“Trout had precautionary X-rays come back negative after being hit-by a pitch during Friday’s spring game against the White Sox”, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. As long as he’s active and healthy, Trout continues to own elite power. His HardHit% of 49.1% tops the league average of 36.5%, and his Barrel% screams power at 15.8%. Trout avoided breaking anything this time, so his availability for Opening Day next week shouldn’t be affected by the injury but as always monitor the oft-injured OF.
Seiya Suzuki OF CHC
Suzuki was diagnosed with a sprained PCL in his right knee after hurting it Saturday during the World Baseball Classic while attempting to steal second base. Cub coach Counsell said that Suzuki will do some light baseball activities while the swelling in his knee subsides, so it’s encouraging that he’s not being fully shut down. Seiya Suzuki’s 2025 HardHit% of 48.7% and Barrel% of 16.6% point to continued massive power for 2026, when healthy. Hope for a discount on draft day, but keep an eye on the injury report.
Grayson Rodriguez SP LAA
Dead Arm: Sounds ominous. Rodriguez (arm) played catch Friday and said he doesn’t consider his injury serious, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. Wait and see if Rodriguez will have to open the regular season on the injured list and how severe the injury is or is not. His 2025 was solid: 3.86 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP and 13.6% swinging strike rate ranks in the top 10% of the league. He even had some bad luck with a BABIP of .308, so again, if healthy, Grayson Rodriguez offers significant potential bounceback upside.
Joe Musgrove SP SDP
Manager Craig Stammen announced Monday that Musgrove (elbow) is expected to open the season on the 15-day injured list, Noah Camras of SI.com reports. Musgrove is trying to make his way back from Tommy John surgery but has experienced a setback after throwing 60 pitches in an exhibition against Team Great Britain earlier in March. After missing all of the 2025 campaign, Musgrove’s return to the mound will have to wait, with Musgrove set to open the season on the IL. IF Joe Musgrove recovers, his 2025 3.88 ERA and 41.3% ground ball rate show his strong floor despite a .305 BABIP with a HardHit% of 40.6%.
Kodai Senga SP NYM
Senga was able to strikeout Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez and Carlos Correa, including 41 of 63 pitches for strikes in his Spring Training outing. The hope is for something closer to his 2023 numbers will return in 2026, 2.98 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 202 Ks in 166.1 innings. In 2025, his 11.6% SwStr rate and 46.6% GB rate points to a solid floor. Seng’s .271 BABIP and 40.3% HardHit rate reveal some cause for concern, so while a return to 2023 may not be likely, he can still be a useful SP.
Didier Fuentes SP LAA
Fuentes struck out eight over four perfect innings of relief in Wednesday’s Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. Fuentes dealt 34 of 50 pitches for strikes and has a ratio of 17:0 K:BB over nine scoreless, hitless innings this Spring. Fuentes is expected to begin the season at Triple-A, but perhaps with a six-man rotation he could be next up.
Lawrence Butler OF ATH
Butler (knees) will lead off and play right field for Friday’s Cactus League game against the Cubs. Butler made his spring debut Tuesday but was limited to DH duties. Butler’s 2025 revealed HardHit% at 44.4%, an ample Barrel% at 9.2% and a HR/FB% of 16.3%. His power potential remains intact, as long as the kneebone stays connected as he is recovering from surgery on his left knee and tendinitis in his right knee.
Jacob Misiorowski SP MIL
Misiorowski has been named the Brewers’ Opening Day starter, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. Misiorowski will get the ball for the Brewers’ regular-season opener against the White Sox on Thursday. The up and down first year of the Miz featured a bloated 4.36 ERA across 66 innings including a 1.50 ERA during a dozen innings in the 2025 playoffs. His xFIP of 3.66 hints that he might have been a bit unlucky. A 13.0% SwStr% ranks him in the top 25%, and his 34.2% GB% places him in the bottom 25%, perhaps contributing to his quite high .299 BABIP. What to expect? The unexpected for the erratic, electric RHP who will be given every opportunity to start every 5th (or 6th) day for the Brew Crew.
Tyler Soderstrom 1B/OF ATH
Soderstrom had been taken out during Thursday’s Cactus League game against Seattle “out of precaution” after being hit by a pitch on the knee, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. But, on Friday, Soderstrom hit fourth and played left field against the Cubs. He hit a HardHit% of 49.8% and a Barrel% of 11.4% shows his very strong floor. The outfielder initially remained in the game and even scored in the same frame on a passed ball, but he was then substituted for in left field upon the bottom of the inning. With that being said, it doesn’t sound like Soderstrom is dealing with a serious injury, so at this point his availability for Opening Day doesn’t seem to be in jeopardy.”
Paul Sewald RP ARI
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo mentioned Sewald as a potential closer candidate: “I love where (Paul) Sewald is at,” the manager said. “He’s been throwing the heck out of the ball. We have other guys that have been doing the exact same thing. So, out of fairness to the group, I probably won’t say anything until Opening Day.” Skipper said this following a Spring Training in which Sewald has allowed two runs over six innings (3.00 ERA) with zero walks and four strikeouts. Kevin Ginkel (11.81 spring ERA) and Ryan Thompson (6.14) are also among the relievers that could get save opportunities early in the regular season, but the three relief pitchers could be used interchangeably.