The Baseball Buffet for 2/25/2026

PIT SS Konnor Griffin (the #1 prospect in baseball at present) hit two HR (including one off BOS SP Ranger Suárez), both of which cleared the Green Monster-like wall at the park. In total the Pirates had 21 hits and 16 runs, and starter Carmen Mlodzinski, who is competing for a rotation spot, did well (2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K).

SEA C Cal Raleigh went 2-4 with a walk and his first HR of the spring. Prospect SS Colt Emerson also went 2-3 with 2 RBI.

Two likely ATL starting pitchers both did well: Reynaldo López (2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K), and Grant Holmes (2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K)

Veteran NYY 1B Paul Goldschmidt went 2-3 with a HR, a double, 4 RBI, and 2 runs. Meanwhile, SP Will Warren struck out 4 in 2.2 IP, but also surrendered 4 hits.

BAL OF Leody Taveras, who is competing for a backup OF role, went 3-4 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and 2 RBI

HOU SP Jason Alexander, who is in a crowded rotation competition for the Astros this spring, was roughed up to the tune of 0.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

NYM OF Mike Tauchman, who is competing for a backup OF role, hit cleanup and went 1-1 with HR, 3 RBI, and a walk

MIA C Joe Mack, who hit 20+ HR in the minors each of the past two years and is looking to split the catching duties with Agustín Ramírez this year, went 1-3 with a grand slam HR

KCR OF Jac Caglianone went 1-3 with 460-foot HR. Josh Rojas, who is trying to earn a spot on the team, went 2-2 with a double and his second HR of the spring.

CIN SS Elly De La Cruz and 3B Eugenio Suárez hit back-to-back HR… perhaps a sign of things to come for them this year?

AZ SP Mike Soroka, who is competing for a rotation spot, struck out 3 over 2 IP (2 H ,1 ER, 1 BB)

MIL 1B Tyler Black, who has had two short stints with the Brewers, went 3-3 with a HR, a double, and 6 RBI

SFG SP Logan Webb looked good (2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K) as he prepares for the WBC

1934: John McGraw dies at the age of 60. “Former New York Giants manager John McGraw dies from prostate cancer in New Rochelle, New York, at age 60. McGraw led the Giants to nine National League pennants and three World Championships during a 33-year managing career. His last public appearance was in 1933 in the first All-Star Game ever as National League manager.”

1951: Smokey Joe Williams dies at the age of 62. “Smokey Joe Williams dies in New York City at age 62. Williams has been considered by many historians to be one of the game's greatest pitchers, even though he never played a game in the white major leagues. He spent his entire 27-year career (1905-1932) pitching in the Negro Leagues, Mexico and the Caribbean, but his path to Organized Baseball was barred by the color line. During his stellar career, he defeated five Hall of Fame pitchers in exhibition competition: Grover Alexander, Charles Bender, Waite Hoyt, Walter Johnson and Rube Marquard. In 1999, after extensive research on the early years of black baseball reveal his outstanding numbers, Williams will gain Hall of Fame honors himself.”

1972: The Phillies acquire pitcher Steve Carlton. “The St. Louis Cardinals trade future Hall of Famer Steve Carlton to the Philadelphia Phillies for pitcher Rick Wise. The trade will prove to be one of the best in the history of the Philadelphia franchise, as Carlton will win an amazing 27 games for the last-place Phillies this season. During his career with the Phillies, Carlton will collect 241 wins, four Cy Young awards and help the Phils win six NL East crowns, two National League pennants, and the 1980 World Series.”

Hall of Famer

15-year major league career, spanning from 1960-1974, almost all with the Cubs

Nine-time All-Star, and won five Gold Glove Awards at 3B

Hit 20+ HR 11 times, with a high of 33 HR in 1965

Had 100+ RBI four times, with a high of 123 in 1969

Had a good eye at the plate, leading the NL in walks four times, and OBP twice

Overall had 342 HR, 1,331 RBI, a .277/.362/.464 slash line, and a 125 OPS+

Santo joined the Cubs radio broadcasting team in 1990 and stayed until his death in 2010

Hall of Famer

18-year major league career, spanning from 1938-1956, starting with 10 years for the Newark Eagles in the Negro National League, and then most of the rest with the Giants of the National League

Five-time All-Star, four times in the Negro Leagues, and then in 1952 with the Giants

According to the data we have at baseball-reference.com, he led the Negro National League in batting average three times (.380 in 1940, .387 in 1941, and .369 in 1946).

Had a great season for the Giants in 1951 with a .312 average with 24 HR and a league-leading 121 RBI

Did well in the postseason (twice in the Negro Leagues and twice for the Giants) with a .394/.463/.592 slash line over 21 games and 81 plate appearances

Overall had 139 HR, a .305/.391/.492 slash line, and a 135 OPS+

17-year major league career, spanning from 1985-2001, all with the Reds and Yankees

Five-time All-Star

Very consistent HR hitter with 18-28 HR in ten seasons

Had 100+ RBI in four consecutive seasons late in his career

According to Wikipedia, “O'Neill is the only player to have played on the winning team in three perfect games. He was in right field for the Reds for Tom Browning's perfect game in 1988. He caught the final out (a fly ball) in the Yankees' David Wells' perfect game in 1998, and he made a diving catch in right field and doubled to help the Yankees win David Cone's perfect game in 1999.”

Overall had 281 HR, 141 SB, 1,269 RBI, a .288/.363/.470 slash line, and a 120 OPS+

After retiring from playing baseball, O'Neill became a broadcaster for the Yankees on the YES Network.

17-year major league career, spanning from 1970-1986, mostly as a CF for the Astros, and then played LF/1B for the Reds, Cardinals, and Dodgers

Four-time All-Star, and won five Gold Glove Awards in CF

Led the NL in doubles twice, and hit 20+ HR three times

Had 45+ SB seven times

Overall had 199 HR, 550 SB, 1,084 runs, a .285/.347/.443 slash line, and a 123 OPS+

17-year major league career, spanning from 1943-1959, mostly with the Cubs and Braves

Four-time All-Star

Played all three OF positions and some games at 3B

Hit 25+ HR three times and had 100+ RBI twice

Overall had 213 HR, 976 RBI, and .285/.350/.449 slash line, and a 117 OPS+

9-year major league career, spanning from 1981-1989, mostly with the Giants

Was primarily a catcher, while also playing some 1B and 3B

Hit 16-20 HR in four consecutive seasons, including as an All-Star in 1984 when he hit 20 HR with 80 RBI

Overall had 91 HR, a .247/.330/.403 slash line, and a 106 OPS+

Was a major league manager for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2001-04, including leading them to the World Series championship in 2001. He has also worked as an MLB broadcaster / color commentator both before and after his four years as a manager.

So far has had a 12-year major league career, spanning from 2014-2025, playing for the Cubs, Royals, Braves, Marlins, Giants, and Angels

Set a new Royals franchise record with an AL-leading 48 HR in 2019 (later tied by Salvador Perez)

Was an All-Star in 2023 for the Marlins and hit 36 HR with a .250 average

Has had mixed results in the postseason, doing well for the Cubs in 2015, and then was World Series MVP for the Braves in 2021 going 6-20 with 3 HR and 6 RBI

Overall so far has 203 HR, a .241/.328/.458 slash line, and a 111 OPS+

11-year major league career, spanning from 1908-1918, as a LF mostly with the Reds and Cardinals

Led the NL in SB in four consecutive seasons with totals of 54, 70, 81, and 67

Scored 100+ runs twice, including an NL-leading 120 runs in 1912

Overall had 428 SB, a .258/.353/.351 slash line, and a 108 OPS+

14-year major league career, spanning from 1995-2008, as a LF mostly for the Blue Jays and Twins

Had 20+ SB four times, with a career-high of 51 SB in 1998

Had 10-13 HR eight times, and had a career-high of 21 HR in 2000

Scored 100+ runs four times

Overall had 115 HR, 196 SB, a .297/.360/.430 slash line, and a 106 OPS+

551 - Lou Brock

488 - Joe Morgan

427 - César Cedeño

380 - Bobby Bonds

375 - Davey Lopes

344 - Freddie Patek

336 - Bert Campaneris

324 - Bill North

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