The Baseball Buffet for 3/2/2026

Verdugo has played nine years in the majors mostly with the Dodgers and Red Sox, and then the past two years with the Yankees and Braves. He has played all three OF positions during that time, but primarily LF the past two seasons.

He showed only modest power during his best seasons, hitting 11-13 HR five times. His average has been a bit lower the past two years, with a .233 average in 2024, and a .239 average (and a surprising 0 HR) in a limited 197 at-bats last year.

Outlook: A left-handed hitting 29-year old, Verdugo adds depth to the Padres’ OF mix during Spring Training, but would seem to be a longshot to make the Opening Day roster. San Diego’s starting OF will presumably include Ramón Laureano in LF, Jackson Merrill in CF, and Fernando Tatis Jr. in RF. And then they have Nick Castellanos, Miguel Andujar, and Gavin Sheets who can be backup OF while mostly sharing the 1B and DH duties. They also have Bryce Johnson as an OF option, plus Ty France as a 1B possibility too.

MIN SP Mick Abel continued to make his case for a rotation spot with 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K. Over two outings this spring he now has 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, and 11 K.

PIT SS prospect Konnor Griffin went 1-3 with his 3rd HR of the spring, and PIT LF prospect Jhostynxon Garcia was 2-2 with a walk and a HR. Meanwhile PIT pitching prospect Hunter Barco started and did well with 3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K.

BAL C Samuel Basallo went 2-2 with a walk, a double, 2 runs, and 2 RBI, and BAL LF Heston Kjerstad was 3-3 with a double and an RBI

BOS DH Willson Contreras went 2-2 with a HR, a double, and 3 RBI, and BOS 2B Caleb Durbin was 2-2 with a double, a walk, and 2 runs

DET SP Tarik Skubal had his final game work before the WBC, with 3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

TBR SP Drew Rasmussen did well with 3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

In two split-squad games, both ATL SP did well with Reynaldo López having 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, and Grant Holmes with 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

ATL 3B Austin Riley was 1-3 with his second spring HR, while Ben Gamel played DH and was 1-3 with his third spring HR

MIA SP Chris Paddack did well with 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

NYY SP Will Warren did well with 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

PHI SP prospect Andrew Painter did well with 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

NYM SP Clay Holmes did well and stretched out to four innings already (4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)

CLE SP Gavin Williams did well with 3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, and CLE prospect Chase DeLauter played DH and went 2-2 with a HR and a double

AZ OF prospect Ryan Waldschmidt went 3-3 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and 2 RBI

ATH SP JT Ginn did well with 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, ATH 1B Joey Meneses went 1-2 with a grand slam, DH Shea Langeliers went 2-2 with a HR, a double, and 3 RBI, and C Austin Wynns was 2-3 with a 3-run HR

SFG SP Logan Webb did well in his final game work before the WBC, with 3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

CHC 3B Alex Bregman went 2-2 with a walk, a double, and his first spring HR. Meanwhile, CHC SP Shota Imanaga struggled with 2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, and three solo HR allowed to CHW C Edgar Quero, DH Austin Hays, and prospect RF Braden Montgomery, who was 2-3 with a triple also

The Royals had two likely rotation members working with Kris Bubic going 2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K and Michael Wacha providing 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

SEA Logan Gilbert struck out 3 in 2.2 IP, giving up 2 H and 1 ER, a HR by TEX SS Cameron Cauley

LAA DH Vaughn Grissom and C Logan O’Hoppe hit back-to-back HR off LAD SP Landon Knack (0.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K)

1874: The batter’s box becomes official. “At the fourth meeting of the National Association of Professional Baseball Players in Boston, the batter's box is officially adopted. It is also decided that expulsion will be the penalty for any player betting on his own team and any player betting on any other team will forfeit his pay.”

1927: A big contract for the Babe is announced. “Babe Ruth becomes the highest-paid player in major league history when the Yankees announce he will earn $70,000 per season for the next three years. Ruth will sign the historic contract on March 4th.”

1992: Ryne Sandberg becomes the highest paid player. “The highest-paid player tag now belongs to Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs. The All-Star second baseman signs a four-year contract extension worth $7.1 million per season.”

Hall of Famer

22-year major league career, spanning from 1926-1947, all with the New York Giants

Never played in the minor leagues and joined the Giants as a 17-year old in 1926, batting .383 in 60 at-bats. Three years later he batted .328 with 42 HR and 151 RBI in his age-20 season.

Led the NL in HR six times, and overall had 25+ HR 13 times

Had 100+ RBI nine times including an NL-leading 135 in 1934, and had 100+ runs nine times, leading the NL twice

Led the NL in walks six times, and OBP four times

Once the All-Star game was instituted, Ott was an All-Star 11 consecutive times from 1934-1944

Mostly played RF, with a little time in CF and 3B

Overall had 2,876 hits, 511 HR, 1,859 runs, 1,860 RBI, a .304/.414/.533 slash line, and a 155 OPS+

11-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1938-1949, mostly with the Cardinals and Braves

Three-time All-Star, including in 1942 when he won the NL MVP after leading the league with a 1.78 ERA, in wins with a 22-7 record, and with 10 shutouts

In 1943 he posted a 21-8 record and 2.30 ERA, and in 1944 he went 22-7 with a 2.46 ERA

Overall had a 128-75 (.631) record, a 2.97 ERA, and a 124 ERA+

11-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1944-1956 (spending 1945 in military service), mostly with the Phillies and Yankees

Was mostly a relief pitcher, with his best season by far being his one All-Star campaign in 1950 for the Phillies when he won the NL MVP Award after posting a 16-7 record in relief, with a 2.66 ERA in 152 IP, and league-leading 22 saves (though saves weren't tracked at that time)

Overall had 76 saves, a 3.46 ERA, and a 112 ERA+

16-year major league career, spanning from 1987-2003, playing his first seven seasons with the Braves and the rest spread across seven different clubs

Two-time All-Star, and received down-ballot MVP consideration four times

Had a good combination of power and speed, with two consecutive 30/30 HR/SB seasons, 25+ HR seven times, and 20+ SB five times

Had 100+ runs four times and 100+ RBI twice

Played 2B and 3B early in his career, but then shifted to LF and CF

Overall had 321 HR, 243 SB, 1,080 runs, 1,008 RBI, a .256/.336/.468 slash line, and a 112 OPS+

14-year major league career, spanning from 1986-1999, as a catcher for the Athletics and Twins

Three-time All-Star

Had some pop with 10-16 HR seven times, and one career year in 1996 when he busted out for 35 HR and 100 RBI

Overall had 162 HR, a .271/.326/.420 slash line, and a 102 OPS+

First-round draft pick (22nd overall) in 2004 by the Twins

12-year major league pitching career, spanning from 2006-2017, all with the Twins

Began as a starting pitcher, but was more effective once he switched to relief

Three-time All-Star from 2013-2015, when he posted save totals of 36, 34, and 32

Overall had 120 saves, a 3.88 ERA, and a 108 ERA+

Skenes once caught PCA & Winn's combined no-no as preteens in 2014, by Thomas Harrigan at MLB, 3/1/2026

1 prospect making some noise in each spring camp, by MLB writers, 3/1/2026

5 Baseball Cards Ready to Hit the Shower(s), at Wax Pack Gods Newsletter, 3/1/2026

The Return of Detroit Tigers Legend Justin Verlander, by Joe Underhill at Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter, 3/2/2026