The Baseball Buffet for 2/28/2026

Grichuk was the first-round draft pick (24th overall) in 2009 by the Angels. He has played 12 years in the majors, for six different clubs. He has hit 20+ HR five times, including a career-high 31 HR in 2019 for the Blue Jays.

Now 34-years old, as a right-handed hitter he has generally hit LHP better than RHP. In 2025 he split his time with the Diamondbacks and Royals, hitting .228 with 9 HR and 18 doubles in 293 plate appearances.

Outlook: While the Yankees do have a left-handed heavy lineup, Cody Bellinger hits LHP just fine. Trent Grisham doesn't as well, so if Grichuk makes the team out of Spring Training he could spell Grisham at times. He could also get some ABs at DH if Giancarlo Stanton isn't ready to go full-steam when Opening Day arrives. He has been suffering from Tennis Elbow in both arms this Spring, and he of course has a history of loads of injuries. Even so, I'd say the Yankees OF competition is officially crowded at this point, as they also have Jasson Domínguez, and hot-hitting prospect Spencer Jones.

BAL SP Shane Baz did well in his first outing for the Orioles (2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K)

PIT SP Mitch Keller gave up three hits but also struck 4 in 2.1 IP

NYM OF MJ Melendez, who is competing for an OF depth spot, went 2-3 with 2 HR and 4 RBI, and NYM SP Freddy Peralta did very well too (3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K)

STL prospect JJ Wetherholt led off and played DH yesterday, going 1-3 with his first HR of the spring

DET SP Jack Flaherty did well, striking out 4 in 2 IP (1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB), and Tigers’ top prospect Kevin McGonigle played 2B and went 2-2 with a walk, a double, and 2 runs

BOS OF Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela both hit homers of ATL SP Chris Sale (2.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K). BOS SP Bello, who is competing in a crowded rotation, struggled in this one (2 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K)

ATL OF Ronald Acuña Jr. went 2-3 with a walk and a grand slam, ATL 1B Matt Olson went 1-2 with 2 walks and a HR, and ATL OF Mike Yastrzemski went 3-3 with 2 HR against his granddad’s old team the Red Sox

MIA SP Robbie Snelling, who is competing as a depth option for the Marlins rotation, struggled against the Phillies (1.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K).

PHI SP Aaron Nola, looking to have a rebound season in 2026, had 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

NYY OF Jasson Domínguez went 3-4 with his first HR of the spring, and NYY OF Spencer Jones was 1-2 with a walk and his third HR of camp

CIN SP Rhett Lowder, who is competing for bullpen or at least depth role for the Reds, pitched three hitless innings (3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K)

CHC SP Edward Cabrera was solid in his debut for the Cubs (2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K)

ATH SP Jeffrey Springs, who is expected to be in the top half of the A’s rotation, struggled yesterday against the Royals (1.2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K)

KCR SS Bobby With Jr. went 2-2 with a walk and 3-run HR

LAD SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out 4 in 3 IP, but also gave up a HR to SFG SS Willy Adames

TEX SP MacKenzie Gore did well with 3 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

CHW SP Erick Fedde, who the White Sox have brought back to compete for a rotation spot, did pretty well with 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER , 1 BB, 2 K

SDP SP Randy Vásquez, who is in a crowded competition for the Padres’ final two rotation spots, did well with 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K)

MIL SP Brandon Sproat, who the Brewers acquired from the Mets in the Freddy Peralta deal, gave up three 3 hits and a run, but also struck out 3 in 1.1 IP

Two HOU SP competing for rotation spots both pitched yesterday in Lance McCullers Jr. (1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K) and Spencer Arrighetti (2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)

1900: John McGraw and Wilbert Robinson sign to join the ill-fate Orioles. “John McGraw and Wilbert Robinson sign contracts with the Baltimore Orioles of the National League. When the long-rumored move by Baltimore to disband occurs, the two players are assigned to the Brooklyn Superbas, but they will refuse and sit out the first third of the season instead. Finally, McGraw and Robinson are sold to the St. Louis Cardinals.”

1968: Lena Blackburne dies at age 81. “Lena Blackburne dies in Riverside, New Jersey, at age 81. A former major league infielder and manager, Blackburne has been the source for his eponymous rubbing mud, used by umpires in both leagues to reduce the shine on new balls. He leaves the mud business to his boyhood friend, John Haas.”

1986: The Commissioner’s office doles out punishments over drug-use offenses. “In Major League Baseball's sternest disciplinary move since the 1919 Black Sox were banished for life, Commissioner Peter Ueberroth gives seven players who were admitted drug users a choice of a year's suspension without pay or heavy fines and career-long drug testing, along with 100 hours of drug-related community service. Joaquin Andújar, Dale Berra, Enos Cabell, Keith Hernandez, Jeffrey Leonard, Dave Parker, and Lonnie Smith will be fined ten percent of their annual salaries to drug abuse programs. The commissioner also doles out lesser penalties to 14 other players for their use of drugs.”

1989: Al Barlick and Red Schoendienst are elected to the Hall of Fame. “The Veterans Committee elects Red Schoendienst and Al Barlick to the Hall of Fame. Schoendienst served as a second baseman and manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, and Barlick was a major league umpire for over 29 seasons.

Hall of Famer

21-year major league career in the Negro leagues, spanning from 1923-1945, playing with six different clubs

Three-time All-Star, he mostly played 1B and 3B, with some time at 2B, SS, and the OF

According to the data available at baseball-reference.com, he led his league in batting with a .422 average in 249 AB in 1927, and then again with a .399 average in 158 AB in 1928

Overall had a .350/.434/.524 slash line and a 154 OPS+ in 3,563 plate appearances

So far has had a 16-year major league pitching career, playing primarily for the Yankees and Reds, but also spending time with five other clubs, including in 2025 with the Red Sox

Eight-time All-Star

One of the most intimidating relief pitchers of all-time, he frequently throws over 100 mph, and has five seasons with 100+ K as a reliever

Has had 30+ saves nine times, though has never led his league in that category

Has had four seasons with an ERA below 2.00, including last year for Boston in his age-37 season when he posted a career-best 1.17 ERA with 32 saves and 85 K in 61.1 IP

Has pitched frequently in the postseason, and overall has done well with a 2.26 ERA, 11 saves, and 73 K in 51.2 IP

Overall so far in the regular season he has 367 saves which ranks third among active pitchers and 12th all-time. Also has a career 2.52 ERA, a 165 ERA+, and 1,331 K in 821.1 IP.

*Note: Birthday was on February 29th, during a leap year

10-year major league career, spanning from 1947-1956, all with the Indians (although only seven seasons were full ones)

Four-time All-Star at 3B

Led the AL with 37 HR in 1950, his first full season

Led the AL with 105 RBI in 1952, then won the AL MVP Award in 1953 after batting a career-best .336 and leading the AL with 43 HR, 145 RBI, and 115 runs

He retired early at age 32 due to ongoing back problems and leg injuries

Overall had 192 HR, 717 RBI, a .285/.384/.495 slash line, and a 137 OPS+

According to Wikipedia, "Following two decades as a stockbroker after retirement from baseball, Rosen returned to the game as a top front office executive in the late 1970s, serving the New York Yankees, Houston Astros and San Francisco Giants variously as president, CEO, and general manager. Regarded as an executive who still thought like a player, he became the only former MVP to also earn baseball's Executive of the Year award."

*Note: Birthday was on February 29th, during a leap year

13-year major league career, spanning from 1928-1944, all with the Cardinals

Four-time All-Star

Playing a mix of 3B and the OF, he was a key member of the strong "Gashouse Gang" Cardinals teams of the 1930s

Had 20+ SB four times, including leading the NL with modest totals of 26 SB in 1933, 23 SB in 1934, and 23 SB in 1936

Led the NL with 122 runs in 1933, and then had 121 runs in both 1935 and 1936
Was outstanding in the 1931 and 1934 World Series, batting a combined .418 (23-55) with 7 SB

Overall had 146 SB, a .298/.358/.443 slash line, and a 113 OPS+

12-year major league career, spanning from 1955-1966, mostly with the Red Sox

Was an All-Star in six seasons, and won three consecutive Gold Glove Awards at 3B

Had some pop with between 13-21 HR in eight consecutive seasons, and had 103 RBI in 1957, his first full season

Overall had 133 HR and a .274 career average

So far has played 7 years in the major leagues, mostly as a LF with the Rays and Mariners

In 2020 for the Rays, after playing only 23 regular season games in his second partial season in the majors, Arozarena did extremely well in the postseason. This included hitting 10 HR in 20 games, and winning the ALCS MVP.

Was then AL Rookie of the Year in 2021 after batting .274, with 20 HR, 20 SB, and 94 runs

Two-time All-Star, he has had 20/20 HR/SB in all five of his full seasons so far

Overall so far has had 118 HR, 131 SB, a .250/.344/.434 slash line, and a 121 OPS+

52 - Jim Thome (2002)

50 - Albert Belle (1995)

49 - Jim Thome (2001)

48 - Albert Belle (1996)

45 - Manny Ramirez (1998)

44 - Manny Ramirez (1999)

2 repeat Cy winners? It hasn't happened in 26 years, by Thomas Harrigan at MLB, 2/27/2026

Lifers and legends among 17 of the most interesting players on Classic rosters, by Michael Clair at MLB, 2/27/2026

Does a teenage debut mean great things ahead? Griffin could be latest test, by Travis Sawchik at MLB, 2/28/2026

Top Five Starting Pitchers in Kansas City Royals History, by Mark Kolier at Almost Cooperstown, 2/27/2026

Mets Face New Year With Talented Freshman Class, by Ray Kuhn at Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter, 2/28/2026