The Baseball Buffet for 3/22/2026

SEA SP George Kirby did reasonably well with 5.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, and 4 K

CHC SP Colin Rea pitched well with 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, and 4 K

CIN SP Andrew Abbott had 5 K in 4.2 IP, but also allowed 4 H, 1 BB, and 5 ER. CIN LF Will Benson hit his fifth HR of the spring, and C Jose Trevino had his third HR.

NYM 1B Mark Vientos finally had his first HR of the spring, but is now only 2-35 (.057)

WSH SP Cade Cavalli did well with 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, and 1 K

PIT CF Oneil Cruz went 2-4 with his second HR of the spring, while PIT 1B Spencer Horwitz had his first HR

PIT SP Paul Skenes did well in his final spring start, with 4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, and 5 K

TOR SP Kevin Gausman allowed several baserunners with 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, and 2 K

TBR 1B Jonathan Aranda went 2-3 with a double and his first HR of the spring

MIN SP Joe Ryan did well in his final spring start, with 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, and 2 K

BAL RF Jhonkensy Noel was 1-2 with a walk and a grand slam HR

BOS SP Garrett Crochet struggled in his final spring start with 5.1 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, and 3 K

ATL SP Chris Sale did well in his final spring start with 6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, and 4 K, while ATL 3B Austin Riley went 3-4 with 2 doubles and his fifth HR of the spring, and ATL 1B Matt Olson went 3-4 with 2 runs

MIA RF Griffin Conine and LF Connor Norby both had their second homers of the spring

DET SP Framber Valdez did well in his final spring start with 6.1 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, and 4 K

NYY SP Cam Schlittler did well in a short start with 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, and 1 K, but NYY pitcher Ryan Yarbrough struggled with 2.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, and 0 K

NYM SP Jonah Tong had 5 K in 4.1 IP, but also allowed 6 H and 3 ER

19-year-old ATH SS prospect Leo De Vries went 2-3 with a triple and 2 runs, and is now 20-47 (.426) with 3 HR and 4 SB this spring

ATH SP Jacob Lopez had 3 K in 2 IP, but also allowed 5 H, 4 BB, and 1 ER

LAD SP Emmet Sheehan had 5 K in 4.2 IP, but also allowed 3 H, 2 BB, and 4 ER

COL SP Kyle Freeland did well with 4 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, and 2 K

KCR SP Cole Ragans had 8 K in 5.1 IP, but also allowed 7 H, 2 BB, and 3 ER

CLE 2B Travis Bazzana, the overall #1 draft pick in 2024, went 3-4 with 2 HR, including a grand slam

CLE SP Tanner Bibee struggled with 4.2 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

SFG SP Robbie Ray did well with 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, and 6 K, while CF Jared Oliva went 2-3 with a HR, 2 runs, and 3 RBI, and 3B Matt Chapman had his seventh double of the spring and is now 15-37 (.405) with 3 HR

AZ SP Ryne Nelson pitched well with 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, and 7 K, while both 3B Nolan Arenado and LF Alek Thomas hit their second homers of the spring

MIL SP Robert Gasser pitched well with 6 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, and 7 K, while the Brewers had three homers by C William Contreras, RF Jackson Chourio, and 1B Jake Bauers, his sixth of the spring

PIT reassigned SS Konnor Griffin to the Indianapolis Indians. This is a big announcement, as he is considered baseball’s #1 overall prospect. But it also isn’t a surprise, as Griffin is still only 19 with one year of professional baseball experience that topped out at AA last year. Yes, he did great in the minors in 2025 with 21 HR, 94 RBI, 117 runs, 65 SB, and a .333/.415/.527 slash line. And yes, he had 4 HR this spring and flashed some good defense. But he also only hit .171 (7-41) with only two walks and 1 SB. And there is the issue of service time and not wanting to lose a full year of Griffin later when he (presumably) will be a star player. So that all said, assuming Griffin does well at AAA, he’ll likely get called up sometime in May. (There is also the news that the Pirates might be negotiating with Griffin on a long-term extension — see the article by Jared Greenspan at MLB.)

PIT optioned OF Jhostynxon Garcia to the Indianapolis Indians - was batting .405 (15-37) with 2 HR and 3 SB this spring

PIT optioned OF Tyler Callihan to the Indianapolis Indians

SEA reassigned SS Colt Emerson to the Tacoma Rainiers.

ATL released 1B Dominic Smith.

ATL released IF Kyle Farmer.

BOS optioned 2B Kristian Campbell to the Worcester Red Sox - it seems Marcelo Mayer has won the 2B job for Boston

CIN optioned OF JJ Bleday to the Louisville Bats - was batting .317 this spring with 4 HR

CIN optioned OF Rece Hinds to the Louisville Bats - was batting .410 (16-39) with 5 HR and 1 SB this spring

NYY optioned IF Oswaldo Cabrera to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

NYY optioned IF Max Schuemann to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

BAL optioned SP Dean Kremer to the Norfolk Tides - although he has been a regular in the Orioles’ rotation for several years, he became the odd man out apparently for the start of 2026. It would seem their rotation to start the year will be Trevor Rogers, who has been announced as the Opening Day SP, followed in some order by Kyle Bradish, Shane Baz, Chris Bassitt, and Zach Eflin.

BOS signs RP Tommy Kahnle. According to an article by Manny Randhawa and Ian Browne at MLB, the Red Sox have signed veteran reliever Tommy Kahnle to a Minor League deal. Kahnle is 36 years old and has pitched 11 years in the majors for the Yankees, Rockies, White Sox, Dodgers, and last year for the Tigers. In 2025 he had a 4.43 ERA with 9 saves and 50 K in 63 IP.

ATL signs 1B Rowdy Tellez. According to an article by Jason Foster at MLB, the Braves are signing veteran 1B Rowdy Tellez to a Minor League deal. Tellez has played eight years in the majors, and continues to provide HR power. He had 35 HR and 89 RBI in 2022 for the Brewers, and had 17 HR and 49 RBI in 112 games in 2025 for the Mariners and Rangers. He played for Mexico in the 2026 WBC, hitting .280 with a HR and 5 RBI in 25 PA.

SFG signs RP Ryan Borucki. According to an article by Maria Guardado at MLB, the Giants are signing left-handed reliever Ryan Borucki to a one-year deal. Borucki turns 32 years old at the end of this month, and has pitched eight years in the major leagues for the Blue Jays, Pirates, and Mariners. Last year he had a 4.63 ERA with 32 K in 35 IP. This spring he was on a Minor League deal with the White Sox, but was recently released and became available to sign with other teams.

1972: The Yankees trade for reliever Sparky Lyle. “In one of the best trades in franchise history, the New York Yankees acquire reliever Sparky Lyle from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for 1B/OF Danny Cater. In seven seasons with the Yankees, Lyle will post a 57-40 record with 141 saves and a 2.41 ERA, win a Cy Young Award, and help the team to three World Series.”

1993: Indians’ pitchers Steve Olin and Tim Crew die in a boating accident. “Cleveland Indians pitchers Steve Olin and Tim Crews are killed, and Bob Ojeda is seriously injured, when the motorboat in which they are riding strikes a pier on Little Lake Nellie near Winter Haven, Florida. Crews and Olin are the first active major leaguers to die since Thurman Munson in 1979.”

So far has pitched nine years in the major leagues, with the Mariners and Mets, but then this offseason signed as a free agent with the Dodgers

Had three good seasons for the Mariners culminating in 2018 when he had a 1.96 ERA, 124 K in 73.1 IP, and an AL-leading 57 saves

Was traded to the Mets, and had mixed results in New York but was a two All-Star, first in 2022 with a 1.31 ERA, 118 K in 62 IP, and 32 saves, and then last year with a 1.63 ERA, 98 K in 66.1 IP, and 28 saves

Overall so far has 253 saves, 839 K in 519.1 IP, a 2.82 ERA, and a 144 ERA+

16-year major league career, spanning from 1947-1962, mostly with the Red Sox and White Sox

Two-time All-Star

Played a mix of 2B, 3B, 1B, and also some OF

Led the AL with a .354 average in 1950

Had very little power, with only 19 HR in 6,448 career plate appearances

Overall had 807 runs, a .300/.376/.378 slash line and a 99 OPS+

14-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1988-2001, mostly with the Dodgers

Was an All-Star in his first full season in 1990 and finished the year second in the NL Cy Young Award vote after posting a 20-6 record, a 2.92 ERA, and 223 K

Had 15+ wins four times, and threw a no-hitter on July 14, 1995

Overall had a 135-88 (.605) record, a 3.67 ERA, and a 105 ERA+

Older brother of Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez, and cousin of pitcher Denny Bautista

13-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1958-1971, with his first eight seasons with the Cubs, and the rest spread across four other clubs

Had his best season in 1963 when he posted a 22-10 record, a 2.11 ERA, and a career-high 185 K

Was an All-Star the next year, but finished the season with a losing 14-18 record, a 3.75 ERA, and a league-high 267 hits allowed

In 1968 with the Red Sox he had a 16-7 record and 3.03 ERA

Overall had a 115-137 record, a 3.72 ERA, and an even 100 ERA+

14-year major league career, spanning from 2008-2021, mostly as a CF with the Rockies, Cardinals, and Cubs

Had a modest combination of power and speed, with 12-19 HR six times, and 15+ SB three times, including a high of 27 SB in 2009

Had 10+ triples four times, including an NL-leading 14 in 2010, and a career-high 15 in 2011

Overall had 817 runs, 127 HR, 149 SB, a .259/.358/.417 slash line, and a 104 OPS+

Crash Davis: Come on, Rook. Show us that million-dollar arm, 'cause I got a good idea about that five-cent head of yours.

Crash Davis: You just got lesson number one: don't think; it can only hurt the ball club.

Crash Davis: This son of a bitch is throwing a two-hit shutout. He's shaking me off. You believe that shit? Charlie, here comes the deuce. And when you speak of me, speak well.

Skip: You guys. You lollygag the ball around the infield. You lollygag your way down to first. You lollygag in and out of the dugout. You know what that makes you? Larry!
Larry: Lollygaggers!
Skip: Lollygaggers.

Crash Davis: Man that ball got outta here in a hurry. I mean anything travels that far oughta have a damn stewardess on it, don't you think?

Crash Davis: Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.

Crash Davis: You be cocky and arrogant, even when you're getting beat. That's the secret. You gotta play this game with fear and arrogance.
Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: Right. Fear and ignorance.
Crash Davis: [exasperated] No. You hayseed. It's arrogance not 'ignorance.'

Annie Savoy: I've tried 'em all, I really have, and the only church that truly feeds the soul, day in, day out, is the Church of Baseball.

62 - Francisco Rodríguez (2008, Angels)

57 - Edwin Díaz (2018, Mariners)

57 - Bobby Thigpen (1990, White Sox)

55 - Eric Gagne (2003, Dodgers)

55 - John Smoltz (2002, Braves)

Who will be the best at ABS challenges? Here's what the players think, by Jared Greenspan at MLB, 3/21/2026

Ranking the Top 10 lineups in baseball, by Anthony Castrovince at MLB, 3/21/2026

Where will each team finish in ‘26? One writer makes his picks, by Will Leitch at MLB, 3/21/2026