Cory Moen

Image courtesy of © Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK A few weeks into the year, we at Royals Keep wanted to take a look at how the top-20 prospects have fared to start the 2026 season. With lots of upside and intrigue among prospects, some of these guys are players you either have already seen or will see soon at Kauffman Stadium. Here’s a quick look at each member of the top-20 prospects and how they have looked to start the season. 1. Carter Jensen - C Playing his age-22 season this year, Jensen has looked pretty solid, especially at the plate. He has hit five home runs in 20 games. He’s shown very good bat speed, in the 88th percentile. One potential issue is the strikeouts, as he has struck out in 31.8% of his plate appearances this season. He’s had a solid start to the year, but where he will be most valuable is at the plate; his defense has been solid as well. Like all young players, Jensen will likely have his ups and downs, but he is set up to be a premier part of the Royals lineup for a long time. 2. Blake Mitchell - C Mitchell is playing his age-21 season, his third professional season, and is playing the early part of the year with High-A Quad Cities. He’s started off somewhat slow at the plate, but it is a small sample size, so it’s silly to get too focused on the numbers there. This will be a big year if he can show upside with the bat, or if he is more likely to take on a back-up role long term as a glove-first catcher with limited upside offensively. 3. David Shields - LHP Shields is also playing at High-A Quad Cities, where he has pitched in 3 games, throwing 11 innings and striking out 15 batters. At 19 years old, he is still a ways from making an impact at Kauffman Stadium, but he has shown the ability early in his career to hit hitters out. He threw 75.2 innings last year and will look to build off that to continue developing as a starting pitcher. 4. Kendry Chourio - RHP A member of the 2025 international signing class, Chourio is playing his age-18 season this year. He’s got higher octane raw stuff than Shields, throwing his fastball between 94-97 mph with a kick-change, curveball, and slider in his arsenal as well. He’s ahead of other 18-year-olds, starting the 2026 season at Single-A, starting three games and throwing 12.2 innings with 15 strikeouts to start the year. One very exciting thing about him in his pro career is his 0.91 WHIP, which means he isn’t giving up many hits and isn't walking many batters either. There is a lot of upside, but young players, especially pitchers, are volatile. He’s likely still a few years away from the majors, but he is a prospect that Royals fans can start dreaming on in the next few years. 5. Ben Kudrna - RHP The first prospect on this list in the upper minors, Kudrna, is starting his age-23 season with Triple-A Omaha. Unfortunately, he was moved to the injured list with right elbow discomfort after just one start and two innings pitched. Any type of arm injury for a pitcher is concerning, so they will likely be careful with Kudrna, not wanting to make the issue worse. Kudrna is getting a second opinion on his elbow before an updated timeline is released. 6. Sean Gamble - OF/2B The Royals' first-round pick from 2025, Gamble, was committed to play college at Vanderbilt before the Royals signed him away after drafting him 23rd overall. He’ll be playing his age-19 season this year, and the left-handed hitter showed up to spring with more strength than he had. While his numbers through his first handful of professional games don’t jump off the page at you, the Royals believe in his athleticism and approach as a hitter. He has upside as a base stealer and the athleticism to stick in center field long term. 7. Josh Hammond - SS The 28th overall selection in the 2025 draft, Hammond is currently a shortstop but may move to third base long term. The Royals are seeing if he can stick at shortstop before making the move. He’s playing his age-19 season in 2026, and started the year at Single-A. He’s gotten off to a hot start at the plate, playing games at both shortstop and third base. Young for the level, it will be interesting to see how he develops as a hitter and grows as a professional. 8. Ramon Ramirez - C Ramirez signed in 2023 as part of the international signing class. He started his age-20 season this year at High-A Quad Cities, with games at both catcher and designated hitter. He’s got enough raw power to hit home runs to any part of any ballpark, and some projections show upside of 20-plus home run power down the road. The organization has lots of catchers in the system, so Ramirez will be given time to develop both at the plate and defensively as well. His upside is as a bat-first catcher, which is something the Royals may have multiple players in the same ilk. 9. Drew Beam - RHP Beam is a former 3rd round selection in 2024, and pitched his first professional season in 2025 at High-A. He threw 131.2 innings over 26 starts in 2025 and will look to build off that solid first year in the organization. He has started the 2026 season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas and has thrown 12 ⅔ innings over his first two starts. He isn’t a high-strikeout pitcher, and his calling card will be his control, which will hopefully help him. He will likely move quickly if he can continue to get hitters out, even without overpowering stuff. 10. Asbel Gonzalez - CF Another member of the 2023 international signing class, Gonzalez has stood out in his first couple of years as a professional. Playing his age-20 season, he is playing at High-A and is in the process of slowly climbing the minor league ladder. Seen as an above-average center fielder, there are few doubts he can stick in center field long term. His development at the plate will be key to watch, as he has shown he can handle the fielding and baserunning, stealing six bases in his first ten games this season. If he can develop offensively, he could project as more than a defensive replacement and pinch-running option. 11. Yandel Ricardo - SS The top Cuban prospect in the 2024 international class, Ricardo, signed for $2.4 million and started his professional career looking the part. His first struggles came at Single-A, where he played 50 games and posted a .547 OPS. One thing worth remembering is that he was playing his age-18 season that year, so reaching Single-A at 18 is an accomplishment. He started this year back at Single-A. The switch-hitter is still a work in progress at the plate, but the Royals believe in him, and signs show he has untapped power if he can make better swing decisions. Like many prospects, what role he has long term will depend on how he develops at the plate. Keep an eye on him if he can start to piece things together at the plate. 12. Felix Arronde - RHP Signed in 2021 out of Cuba, Arronde is playing his age-22 season and started the year at Double-A. He posted a 2.80 ERA in 2025, with 128 ⅔ innings pitched. He has looked solid over his first few starts, but has given up more home runs this year than in previous years. He gave up nine home runs all last season and has given up four already this year. The hope is that he is just adjusting to the upper minors, and this isn’t a sign of issues to come. He’ll likely pitch most, if not all, of the year at Double-A, and the thing to keep an eye on is if he can tap more into swing and miss stuff, because the upside is most certainly there. 13. Luinder Avila - RHP Signed back in 2018 out of Venezuela, Avila has worked his way up the minor leagues and made his major league debut in 2025. He started the year at Triple-A Omaha and was then recalled to the majors, where he has thrown six innings over two appearances at the major league level. He is serving as rotation depth, but may be destined for the bullpen long term, because that is where he profiles best. 14. Daniel Vazquez - SS An international signee in 2021, Vazquez is playing his age-22 season in 2026 and has started the year at Double-A after spending most of last year at High-A. His bat development will be key to his development this year. He profiles best as a utility infielder if his bat can develop enough, as he has been solid defensively and on the bases. 15. Steven Zobac - RHP Drafted in the fourth round in 2022 out of Cal, Zobac was slowed by a knee injury in 2025, limited to just 14 starts. He was added to the 40-man roster prior to the Rule 5 draft, so the Royals believe in him enough not to leave him unprotected. His strengths are in his command, and his pitches play up due to the command being as solid as it is. He has not pitched yet in 2026, but if he can show he is past the injury, he could rise up the last few steps of the minors pretty quickly. He’ll likely start at Double-A with the potential to be in the big leagues if things go as planned. 16. Carson Roccaforte - OF Drafted in the supplemental second round in 2023, Roccaforte won the organization’s Defensive Player of the Year Award in both 2024 and 2025, which shows he has upside in centerfield long term. He showed more power in 2025, hitting 18 home runs between High-A and Double-A. He has started this year at Double-A and hit four home runs over his first 15 games, which is a sign that the power might be here to stay. If his production continues on this trajectory, the Royals could bring him up to the majors sooner rather than later. 17. Blake Wolters - RHP A former second-round pick, Wolters has had his ups and downs throughout his time in the minors. Most recently, he was slowed by shoulder weakness in 2025, limiting him to just 12 starts. He will be pitching at Single-A for the third year, but could climb a level if he shows he is healthy. Still just 21 years old, Wolters has plenty of upside, and the Royals will look to continue developing him as a starter, but a move to the bullpen is possible if the shoulder issues persist. He’s looked solid over his first few starts this year, so hopefully he will continue to develop and live up to the potential that made him an early selection just a few years ago. 18. Michael Lombardi - RHP A 2025 second-round pick, Lombardi is pitching in his first professional action this year. In 2025, he threw 42 innings and had a whopping 73 strikeouts. He’s looked very good this year, with 20 strikeouts over his first three appearances over 10.1 innings. He’ll develop as a starter, but he did pitch out of the bullpen in college, having played both centerfield and first base as well while at Tulane. Still a long way to go developmentally, there is plenty of upside and things to be excited about with Lombardi, as he is playing his age-22 season this year. 19. Warren Calcano - SS Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2025, the 18-year-old switch-hitter will likely move up out of the Dominican Summer League at some point in 2026. His fielding is ahead of his bat, which is not uncommon for young prospects. Calcano has power potential, but time will tell how much he can tap into that down the road. He is returning from a shoulder injury, so how his arm strength looks will be something to watch for this year. He’s shown good speed and has upside as a baserunner as well. 20. Frank Mozzicato - LHP A 2021 first-round pick, Mozzicato has worked his way up the minors and started the year at Double-A. He’s been a bit inconsistent in his time in the minor leagues and will look to be more consistent at Double-A after struggling after a mid-year call-up last year. His velocity has not climbed like many thought it would, but he has an above-average curveball to go along with his 90 mph fastball and 86 mph changeup. He also started throwing a cutter this past season, so it will be interesting to see how much he throws that as well. The Royals will continue to try to develop him as a starter, but there is a real View full article

Isaac Collins was removed from a game after attempting to make a diving catch into the stands in left field against the Tigers. He didn't get up right away, but walked back into the dugout with a noticeable limp. Collins hasn't had a great start to the season after being acquired in an offseason trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. Collins has hit .214/.327/.310 for an OPS+ of 85. The injury is listed as a knee injury, and the Royals will update his status on Wednesday. View full rumor

Image courtesy of © Peter Aiken-Imagn Images The Royals have had a lackluster start to the 2026 season. They currently stand 7-9, which is a disappointing start to the season for a team that was looking to compete in the AL Central. It’s still early, so this could just be a blip on the radar, but this week will be important in helping turn the season around and not dig a hole that the team cannot dig itself out of this year. This could be a key week in facing the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees on the road. A few things to keep an eye on this week to see if we are not seeing more of the same include if the hitters can step up and hit like they are expected to, if the starting rotation can continue to give the team a chance to win, and if the team can take some games from playoff teams from a year ago. Tough Offensive Start It has been a tough start to most of the Royals' lineup, as they are hitting .221 with an OBP of .311, good for 24th and 19th, respectively. The .655 OPS ranks 24th in MLB and will need to improve if the team hopes to build some momentum as we get deeper into the season. Only four players have a league average OPS of .693 or better, while other potential key contributors fall quite a bit below that. Carter Jensen, Maikel Garcia, and Kyle Isbel have been bright spots in the lineup, but expecting those three to continue hitting the way they have over the first couple of weeks of the year could be a big ask, specifically in Isbel’s case, who has a career OPS+ of 84. Maybe he has improved and will be closer to league average, but the .316 batting average to go along with an .895 OPS is a big ask of a player who has been a below-average hitter prior to this season. Garcia signed a big contract and is expected to be a key contributor in the lineup, so his getting off to a strong start is a bit less of a surprise. Jensen is a young hitter with plenty of upside and is someone who the team was hoping would take a step forward this season. Bobby Witt Jr. has had a down year by his standards, as he has a league-average OPS to this point. With the talent he has, it would be quite the surprise not to see him be the MVP caliber player he is the rest of the way. The rest of the lineup, specifically from bigger-name players, is where they have struggled mightily at the start of the year. Salvador Perez has hit for a slash line of .153/.219/.288 to start the year, and the Royals and their fans are hoping this isn’t the start of a decline for a mainstay in the Royals lineup for the past 15 years. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino has also had a rough start to the year, with an even worse slash line than Perez, hitting .153/.246/.169. Both players have had a rough start to the year, but will likely get closer to their career splits the rest of the way. This week will be a tough test for the offense, as they face the AL Central favorites to start the year, the Detroit Tigers, and the vaunted New York Yankees. Both teams are looking to rebound from tough weeks, so the Royals pitchers could be in for an interesting week ahead. To this point in the season, the starting rotation for the Royals has been solid. Kris Bubic and Michael Wacha have been very good, each with three starts and ERAs of 2.50 and 0.43, respectively. Seth Lugo has also delivered sterling results, pitching to a 1.53 ERA in his first three starts as well. Cole Ragans has struggled in his first three starts this year, pitching to a 5.91 ERA, and will look to get back to form, facing off against Framber Valdez to start the road trip. The bullpen has had its moments this year, being led by closer Lucas Erceg, who has recorded five saves in the seven wins this season. The rest of the bullpen has been spotty, so more consistency will be key, especially if the offense continues to struggle. While they may not finish with those numbers, they are a promising start and something to continue building on, because the starters will need to face two lineups in the Tigers and Yankees that have some starters either looking to build on a good start or get their seasons headed in the right direction. The Tigers have the 10th-best team OPS, while the Yankees, similar to the Royals, have struggled to the 25th-best team OPS to this point. Pitching, on the other hand, has been solid for both teams, as the Yankees rank 2nd in team ERA and the Tigers rank 11th. While the opponents might be tough this week, this could prove to be the week where the Royals' season does one of two things. Either it turns around and goes as the team, and fans were hoping it would, or they continue digging themselves into a hole that will be tougher and tougher to dig out of. The keys will be the offense starting to get back to form and not relying on the top three or four hitters, the pitching continuing to keep them in games, and the bullpen being more consistent beyond Erceg. How important do you think this week is for the Royals? View full article

A prospect getting to Triple-A means they are just one step away from the major leagues. The call-up to the majors could happen for a variety of reasons, including the prospect playing their way into the major league club’s plans, an injury to a current major leaguer, or even a player needing to step away for a few days for personal reasons. Players at Triple-A are typically a combination of guys who have a good amount of experience, either at the major league level or some years in the minor leagues, and prospects who are still working their way up and looking for that first call. The Omaha Storm Chasers are no different and have a few intriguing names, including former first-round pick Gavin Cross, and fellow top 30 prospects via MLB Pipeline RHPs Shane Panzini (#21) and Ben Kudrna (#10). While many of the Royals' top prospects are in the lower minors, these players are intriguing enough, and they may even get a shot at Kaufmann Stadium as early as the 2026 season. The Storm Chasers roster is also full of players who have some experience in the major leagues as well, which are good guys to call on when a roster spot opens up in Kansas City. Here is a preview of the coaching staff, the roster, and what to expect from certain players this season and beyond. Storm Chasers Coaching Staff The coaching staff in the minor leagues is key to developing future major leaguers in any organization. The Storm Chasers have many familiar faces from past years. Pat Osborn will be in his second year as the manager of the Storm Chasers. This year will be his 15th in pro ball and seventh as a minor league manager. He was the bench coach for the Storm Chasers before his current appointment. Dane Johnson will be in his seventh season in Omaha and the sixth in the pitching coach role. He’s been in the Royals organization since 2020, and this year is his 27th season as a coach. He has experience as a major league bullpen coach and as a pitching coach at various levels of the minor leagues. David Lundquist will serve as the Assistant Pitching Coach, his third season with Omaha and 22nd in pro ball. He joined the Royals organization in 2024 and also has previous experience as a major league bullpen coach with the Philadelphia Phillies. Bijan Rademacher will be serving as the hitting coach in Omaha and will be in his fourth season in Omaha and sixth season coaching overall. He joined the Royals organization in 2023 after two years with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Tripp Keister is listed as an Assistant Coach and will likely help with a variety of things across the coaching staff. He is in his second season with the Storm Chasers and his third year with the Royals organization. He’s entering his 15th season as a coach in minor league baseball and his previous experience is in the Washington Nationals organization, along with 12 seasons coaching in college and five years a pro scout. James Stone and Amanda Gallone will serve as Athletic Trainers and are in their eighth and second seasons with Omaha, respectively. Others listed on the coaching staff are Mike Brown, who is in his eighth year as the Clubhouse Manager, and his 20th season in Omaha, and Ben Nicholas, who will serve as the Assistant coordinator for Minor League Video. Brown is a mainstay with the Storm Chasers and has worked in various roles both at Werner Park and at Rosenblatt Stadium. Nicholas is in his third season with Omaha, and second in his current role. Storm Chasers Pitchers RHP Ryan Bergert, RHP Mason Black, RHP Ethan Bosacker, RHP Eric Cerantola, RHP Jose Cuas, LHP Tyson Guerrero, RHP Brandon Johnson, RHP Ben Kudrna, LHP Chazz Martinez, LHP John Means, RHP Eli Morgan, LHP Helcris Olivarez, RHP Shane Panzini, LHP Andrew Perez, LHP Ryan Ramsey, RHP Aaron Sanchez, RHP Anthony Simonelli, RHP Mitch Spence, RHP Beck Way A few of these names likely look familiar, either because they have major league experience or because they have appeared on top prospects lists over the past few years. Both Kudrna and Panzini are listed in the top prospects and may get a call very soon. Others will likely serve as organizational depth and have previous major league experience, so they are likely on a short list of guys to call up. Morgan, Guerrero, and Sanchez all have different levels of success at the major league level, and if the organization can get them back to what made them successful, they could be great options and be called up to the majors if they show they are useful out of the bullpen. Means is listed on the roster but will likely be out the entire season with a torn Achilles. He signed a two-year deal and will likely be available in 2027 for the Royals. Storm Chasers Catchers Jorge Alfaro, Elias Diaz, Elih Marrero, Luca Tresh Alfaro and Diaz will serve as depth options beyond major league catchers Salvador Perez and Carter Jensen. Diaz is a former All-Star Game MVP back in 2023, so the upside is there. Tresh is in his second year with Triple-A Omaha, after playing 72 games and hitting 10 home runs in 2025. Both Alfaro and Marrero are listed on the Development List, so they are not taking up active roster spots. Storm Chasers Infielders Brandon Drury, Connor Kaiser, Kevin Newman, Josh Rojas, Abraham Toro, Peyton Wilson A few of these names may also look familiar, as Drury, Newman, Toro, Kaiser, and Rojas all have some major league experience. Wilson will be in his second season in Triple-A. Most of this list are players on minor-league deals but could receive a call-up if they either play their way into a call-up, or an injury on the major league roster leads to needing another infielder. Storm Chasers Outfielders Gavin Cross, Nick Loftin, Kameron Misner, John Rave, Drew Waters Loftin, Waters, and Rave are likely familiar names as they have played some at the major league level with the Royals in recent years. Cross is a former first-round pick and is ranked 27th in the Royals system via MLB Pipeline. He will be playing his first season in Triple-A, after playing the past two seasons with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He hit for a .703 OPS this past season and showed some power, hitting 17 home runs over 114 games played. Misner was acquired in an off-season trade for a player to be named later from the Tampa Bay Rays. He played in 71 games at the major league level and hit .213/.273/.345 in 2025. While the Omaha roster may not be filled with high-end prospects, there are still plenty of names that should be fun to follow and it is filled with plenty of players who could be called up this year. Whether the players are serving as organizational depth, playing at Triple-A for the first time, the Storm Chasers should be intriguing to watch to see if any players push their way into playing time at the major league level or show why they should be seen as pieces for the future in the Royals organization. View full article

Image courtesy of © Brett Davis-Imagn Images With the Royals looking to return to being competitive in the AL Central, we wanted to take a look around at the other teams in the division and what moves they made this offseason. This is a look at what to expect from the Chicago White Sox this season. The White Sox finished last in the division with a 60-102 record, marking their second straight season with over 100 losses after setting an MLB record with 121 in 2024. Here is a look at some notable additions and subtractions for the White Sox this offseason. White Sox Subtractions OF Luis Robert Jr. SP Martin Perez RP Tyler Alexander OF Michael A. Taylor RP Miguel Castro OF Mike Tauchman White Sox Additions INF Munetaka Murakami, 2 years, $34 million RP Seranthony Dominguez, 2 years, $20 million SP Anthony Kay, 2 years, $12 million, mutual option for 2028 SP/RP Jordan Hicks (trade w/Red Sox) OF Austin Hays 1 year, $6 million, mutual option for 2027 2B Luisangel Acuna (trade with Mets) SP/RP Sean Newcomb 1 year, $4.5 million OF Jarred Kelenic (minor league deal) P Erick Fedde, 1 year, $1.5 million Chicago made headlines this offseason with several notable changes. The addition of infielder Munetaka Murakami, signed from the NPB in Japan, is expected to bring significant power to the lineup despite a tendency for strikeouts. Seranthony Dominguez was signed as the new closer to help improve a bullpen that has struggled for the last couple of years. Just as notable as their signings, the White Sox made a major move by trading former All-Star and Silver Slugger OF Luis Robert Jr. to the New York Mets. In return, they acquired infielder Luisangel Acuna—brother of Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr.—along with pitching prospect Truman Pauley. The White Sox also acquired veteran pitcher Jordan Hicks in a trade with the Red Sox. Hicks is expected to either join the starting rotation or be used as a high-leverage relief pitcher, depending on team needs. Although the additions seem to outweigh the subtractions for the South Siders, the overall impact will depend on how the team manages the new direction and whether young players can take a step toward being more consistently competitive. Here is a look at a few injuries and the players who should have the biggest impact on the White Sox's success in 2026. White Sox Injuries LHP Ky Bush, Tommy John surgery RHP Drew Thorpe, Tommy John surgery 1B Tim Elko - Torn ACL - expected return June/July RHP Prelander Berroa - Recovering from Tommy John surgery in March 2025 Losing two pitchers to Tommy John surgery—Ky Bush, a top thirty prospect, and Drew Thorpe—depletes pitching depth. Tim Elko and Prelander Berroa have gotten a cup of coffee, but they will be out to start the year, which will limit options in the lineup and out of the bullpen. Key White Sox Players SS Colson Montgomery - 3.3 bWAR SP Adrian Houser - 3.0 bWAR RP Mike Vasil - 2.9 bWAR SP Shane Smith - 2.3bWAR C Kyle Teel - 1.9 bWAR 3B Miguel Vargas - 1.9 bWAR Other players include starting pitcher Davis Martin, infielder Chase Meidroth, outfielder Andrew Benintendi, and utility player Lenyn Sosa (2B/OF). Notably, SS Colson Montgomery finished fifth in AL Rookie of the Year voting and led the team in bWAR in 2026. Starting pitchers Adrian Houser and Shane Smith will anchor the rotation, with Smith displaying front-line potential thus far in his career. Catcher Kyle Teel and third baseman Miguel Vargas are also young players aiming to build on strong 2025 campaigns and step into more prominent roles at their respective positions. With a team looking to return and become more competitive, there will be opportunities for several young players. Young players can help speed up a rebuild and quickly return a team to competitiveness if they are called up and succeed. The White Sox system boasts five prospects in MLB Pipeline’s top 100, led by OF Braden Montgomery, whose advanced approach and athleticism make him a potential everyday outfielder. LHP Noah Schultz, a power lefty, is expected to contribute to the major league rotation as early as 2026. LHP Hagen Smith projects as high-upside rotation depth. Both SS Billy Carlson and SS/3B Caleb Bonemer show promise but may need more seasoning in the minors before contending for roster spots. Spring White Sox Storylines (and beyond) Early in the year, attention will rest on how the team's catcher and designated hitter roles take shape. With three catchers—Teel, Edgar Quero, and Korey Lee—vying for playing time both behind the plate and at DH, and potential contributions from Murakami, Andrew Benintendi, and Lenyn Sosa in the DH role, this competition will be something worth keeping an eye on. Like many teams, the White Sox will hope their young players take a step forward and provide the next core to build around when they return to contention. Colson Montgomery and Shane Smith will headline the position players and pitchers as young players with high upside. Munetaka Murakami signing with the White Sox was a bit of a surprise, and it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to MLB. Transitioning leagues can present challenges, and the evaluation will focus on both his adjustment to Major League pitching and how opponents approach him. Murakami brings considerable potential, especially in the power department. With all of the additions shaping the roster for this year and into the future, here is a look at the projected lineup, rotation, and expected record for the White Sox in 2026. Projected White Sox Lineup Chase Meidroth - 2B Kyle Teel - C Colson Montgomery - SS Munetaka Murakami - 1B Miguel Vargas - 3B Austin Hays - RF Andrew Benintendi - LF Edgar Quero - DH Brooks Baldwin - CF Projected White Sox Rotation Shane Smith - RHP Davis Martin - RHP Anthony Kay - LHP Erick Fedde - RHP Sean Burke - RHP Projected White Sox Record PECOTA: 5th place, 69-93 FanGraphs: 5th place, 69-93 While the projections may temper White Sox fans' expectations, the roster features intriguing talent and some interesting storylines to keep an eye on this year. Both PECOTA and Fangraphs see improvement over last year, making it worth watching whether the team can surpass forecasts and build momentum throughout 2026 and beyond. While not projected as favorites, the White Sox are positioned to offer stronger competition in the AL Central this season than in recent seasons. Progress this year could spark renewed division rivalries and signify important steps toward contending for the division crown in the near future for the South Siders. View full article

Image courtesy of © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images This is a look at what to expect from the Minnesota Twins this season. The Twins finished in fourth in the AL Central with a 70-92 record, after a trade deadline where they traded 10 major leaguers as part of a reset/rebuild/reboot (depends on who you ask). This marked a step back from 2024, when they went 82-80, and a hefty step back from 2023, when they won the division and their first playoff series in over 20 years. Here is a look at some notable additions and subtractions for the Twins this offseason. Twins Subtractions 2B Edouard Julien (trade with Rockies) C Christian Vazquez RP Pierson Ohl (trade with Rockies) Twins Additions C/1B Victor Caratini, 2 years, $14 million 1B/DH Josh Bell 1 year, $7 million RP Taylor Rogers - 1 year, $2 million RP Liam Hendriks (minor league deal) RP Anthony Banda (trade with Dodgers) SS Orlando Arcia (minor league deal) 3B Gio Urshela (minor league deal) RP Andrew Chafin (minor league deal) These additions and subtractions don’t tell the whole story, as the Twins traded 10 major leaguers at the 2025 deadline. Josh Bell and Victor Caratini add needed experience to a young lineup. After the trade deadline sell-off, the bullpen is wide open for opportunities from veteran and young arms alike. Taylor Rogers signed a one-year deal to reunite with Minnesota and will likely pitch high-leverage innings. Other high-leverage innings will go to Liam Hendriks, if healthy, along with Anthony Banda, and possibly Andrew Chafin as well. Internal options for high-leverage innings include Cole Sands and Justin Topa. The additions may seem to outweigh the subtractions, but they do not account for the ten players traded at the deadline, and the Twins are very much a team in transition as they look to retool to become competitive in the near future. Every team deals with injuries, and the Twins are no different. Here is a look at a few key injuries that will affect the Twins in 2026. Twins Injuries RHP Pablo Lopez, Tommy John Surgery RHP David Festa, right shoulder impingement (expected return in April) RHP Travis Adams, elbow inflammation (should return late Spring training, early in the season) OF Walker Jenkins, grade 1 left hamstring strain (expected return late March) The loss of Pablo Lopez was quite a blow for a Twins rotation that was looking for him to be his all-star caliber self and lead the staff, along with Joe Ryan. Lopez is under contract through 2027 and is expected back for the final year. David Festa, Travis Adams, and Walker Jenkins are all players who have dealt with injuries this Spring and will look to be ready for the beginning of the season or early in the season. Festa’s injury, in particular, was tough, which will test the pitching depth early in the year. The Twins hope these three players do not have long-term availability issues stemming from injuries sustained during Spring Training. As a team in transition, here is a look at some of the key players for the Twins in 2026. Key Twins Players CF Byron Buxton - 4.9 bWAR SP Joe Ryan - 4.5 bWAR SP Simeon Woods Richardson - 2.2 bWAR 2B/OF Luke Keaschall - 2.0 bWAR C Ryan Jeffers - 1.2 bWAR Byron Buxton, who recently played for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, will look to be the key piece of the lineup. Luke Keaschall was the only rookie who had a significant impact in 2025, but hopefully is the first of many young players who will make an impact for the Twins in the near future. Woods Richardson, whom the Twins acquired along with Austin Martin for Jose Berrios from the Toronto Blue Jays at the 2021 trade deadline, will look to continue growing into a solid starter for the rotation. Ryan will be the ace of the staff and will look to build off of his first All-Star appearance in 2025. The rotation has become a bit of a conundrum with a few injuries, but it could still provide upside, and Ryan will be a big part of any success they have this coming season. Speaking of top prospects, here is a look at the Twins' top prospects, which includes four players in MLB Pipeline's top 100 prospects going into the 2026 season. Twins Top Prospects Walker Jenkins - OF Kaelen Culpepper - SS Eduardo Tait - C Emmanuel Rodriguez - OF Connor Prielipp - LHP This list includes four prospects who could be seen in the majors as early as this year. All but Tait have a good shot at the opportunity to make an impact at the major league level in 2026. Jenkins was the fifth overall prospect in 2023, in a class where the Twins jumped in the inaugural draft lottery. Culpepper has a shot at sticking at shortstop long-term, but has shown positional flexibility and could be an option at second base or third base as well. Tait came over to the Twins, along with Mick Abel, in the trade that sent Jhoan Duran to the Philadelphia Phillies at last season’s trade deadline. He is 19 years old and has shown high upside, but is still a few years away from the majors. Rodriguez and Prielipp have both dealt with various injuries, with Rodriguez never having played 100 games in a season and Prielipp throwing just 112.2 innings since being drafted in 2022. Both have shown high ceilings, but the key will be staying healthy so they can have as big an impact as they can going forward. Twins Spring Storylines (and beyond) The Pitching Staff The rotation looked relatively deep prior to the Lopez and Festa injuries, but lots of the success out of the rotation will hinge on Bailey Ober getting back to form, along with younger pitchers Simeon Woods Richardson, Mick Abel, Zebby Matthews, and Taj Bradley taking a step forward. The bullpen is another questionable area, as the Twins traded all their high-leverage relievers at the deadline. The front office seems to think they can rebuild the bullpen on the fly, and time will tell whether they succeed. A few young players, such as Marco Raya, will transition into being a full-time reliever this year, but a lot will hinge on how some of the off-season moves perform. Young Twins Players And Their Impact Luke Keaschall was the only Twins rookie in 2025 who had a major impact, but that could be different this coming season. Lots of young players are expected to get a good amount of time in the majors, including top prospects Jenkins, Culpepper, and Prielipp. Along with those two, other prospects who have a shot at making their major league debuts include OF Gabriel Gonzalez, LHP Kendry Rojas, OF/1B Hendry Mendez, along with pitchers Andrew Morris and Marco Raya as well. The youth movement appears to have started in Minnesota, and time will tell what impact those players will have on 2026 and beyond. Here’s a look at the projected lineup, rotation, and projected record for the Twins this year: Projected Twins Lineup Byron Buxton - CF Josh Bell - 1B Luke Keaschall - 2B Matt Wallner - RF Victor Caratini - DH Trevor Larnach/Alan Roden - LF Royce Lewis - 3B Ryan Jeffers - C Brooks Lee - SS Projected Twins Rotation Joe Ryan - RHP Bailey Ober - RHP Taj Bradley - RHP Simeon Woods Richardson - RHP Zebby Matthews/Mick Abel - RHP Projected Twins Record PECOTA: 3rd place, 79-83 FanGraphs: 4th place, 79-83 You may be surprised to see the Twins are projected to improve on their 70-92 record from 2025 at first glance. This appears to be, in part, due to the belief that certain aspects of the roster will improve, and that other teams in the division may regress as well. The Twins have operated on a limited budget all off-season, and with a new person in charge of the front office, they will look to build up to relevance in the AL Central. It could be a very fun and exciting year in Minnesota, but it could also not go well, and the Twins could be trading pieces at the deadline again if things don’t go as they hope. American League Central Previews Detroit Tigers Cleveland Guardians View full article

Image courtesy of © David Richard-Imagn Images With the Royals looking to return to competitiveness in the AL Central, we wanted to take a look at the other teams in the division and the moves they made this offseason. This is a look at what to expect from the Cleveland Guardians this season. The Guardians enter 2026 as the defending AL Central champions. After off-season changes, will they repeat and claim their fourth division title in five years? The big news out of Cleveland this offseason is the extension that third baseman Jose Ramirez signed, keeping him in Cleveland through 2032, which will be his age-39 season. As the face of the franchise, Ramirez sets the pace—when he thrives, so does the club. To understand how Cleveland looks coming into 2026, let's take a look at the additions and subtractions from this offseason. Guardians Subtractions OF Lane Thomas RP Sam Hentges RP Jakob Junis SP John Means SP Triston McKenzie OF Will Brennan Guardians Additions RP Colin Holderman, 1 year, $1.5 million (controlled through 2028) RP Shawn Armstrong, 1 year, $5.5 million, mutual option for 2027 1B Rhys Hoskins, minor league deal Hoskins, on a minor league deal, is expected to add power at first base and designated hitter. He will look to return to being an above-average hitter with 30-home-run potential. Armstrong, after a strong season in 2025 with the Texas Rangers, will likely take on higher-leverage innings with the departures of key relievers from the Guardians 2025 team. Holderman is a potential bullpen project for Cleveland, a team known for reviving and getting the most out of relievers. On the subtraction side, both reliever Sam Hentges and John Means have joined other teams (the Giants and Royals, respectively) following injury issues in recent years. Jakob Junis, after a solid 2025 season, may be a notable loss from the pitching staff after signing with the Texas Rangers. McKenzie, limited to 24 games over three seasons since his 2022 breakout, has also signed elsewhere and will look to revive his career in San Diego. The Guardians are a team that always seems to linger in the division race. While their roster may not appear very intimidating at first glance, they maintain competitiveness more often than not. One thing the AL Central has learned over the past few years is to never count the Guardians out, even when everything says to do so. Guardians Injuries Andrew Walters, recovering from lat surgery, should return in May and may join the bullpen if healthy. Ben Lively, who pitched well in 2024 and early 2025, will miss 2026 after Tommy John surgery and will look to return in 2027. Though some may see the Guardians as a team in transition, let's take a look at the current key players as well as who may be contributing at the major league level soon, in their top prospects. Key Guardians Players 3B Jose Ramirez - 5.8 bWAR SP Gavin Williams - 3.8 bWAR LF Steven Kwan - 3.7 bwAR 2B Daniel Schneemann - 1.9 bWAR C Bo Naylor - 1.5 bWAR Other notable players include Gabriel Arias (SS), Kyle Manzardo (1B/DH), and pitchers Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo, and Kolby Allard. Top Guardians Prospects 2B Travis Bazzana OF Chase DeLauter SS Angel Genao 1B/OF Ralphy Velazquez LHP Parker Messick Ramirez remains the cog in their lineup, with Williams, Kwan, Schneemann, and Naylor among the main contributors. Arias, Manzardo, Bibee, Cantillo, and Allard are also expected to play important roles in looking to help keep the Guardians competitive in the Central. Bazzana, ranked MLB's No. 20 prospect, nears his debut after representing Australia in the WBC. DeLauter (No. 46 prospect) may break camp with the team and could see regular left-field time. Genao (No. 66) and Messick (No. 95) may debut this year; Velazquez (No. 89) is a 2027 candidate. Key Questions for Cleveland in 2026 Who is playing Center Field? For the outfield, manager Stephen Vogt has indicated that all outfielders may rotate between positions. Most likely, Steven Kwan shifts from left to center field, which opens the door for young bats to gain major league experience. DeLauter presents another option in center field if they prefer to keep Kwan in left field. What will the rotation look like? Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee are expected to anchor the first two rotation spots, leaving three open for competition. The performance of those filling these roles will serve as a key indicator of the Guardians' overall success. Young pitching has been a constant for the Guardians for many years. It would not be surprising to see the next wave—Slade Cecconi, Logan Allen, Joey Cantillo, and Parker Messick—emerge as average or better major league starters. Will the Guardians be able to rely on Travis Bazzana? Bazzana missed time last year due to an oblique strain, playing in just 84 games, mostly at Double-A and Triple-A. If healthy, he could quickly join the major league roster, possibly by Opening Day. He's an electric player and will look to be a key piece along with Kwan and Ramirez for the foreseeable future. Here's a look at the projected lineup, rotation, and how the Guardians project over a full season. Projected Guardians Lineup Steven Kwan - CF George Valera - RF Jose Ramirez - 3B Kyle Manzardo - 1B Rhys Hoskins - DH Chase DeLauter - LF Bo Naylor - C Gabriel Arias - SS Brayan Rocchio - 2B Projected Guardians Rotation Gavin Williams - RHP Tanner Bibee - RHP Logan Allen - LHP Slade Cecconi - RHP Joey Cantillo - LHP Projected Guardians Record PECOTA: 4th place, 76-86 FanGraphs: 4th place, 76-86 While the Guardians may be projected to finish behind all AL Central teams other than the White Sox, this is not uncommon territory for Cleveland, which has outperformed its projections in recent years. The Guardians were 10.5 games out of first place on Sept 1 this past season and played very well down the stretch, going 20-6 the rest of the way to win the AL Central. The Guardians have proven to be pesky and never out of it, so don’t be surprised if they perform better than many think they will in 2026. View full article

Image courtesy of © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images With the Royals looking to return to being competitive in the AL Central, we wanted to take a look around at the other teams in the division and what moves they made this offseason. This is a look at what to expect from the 2026 Detroit Tigers. The Tigers finished second in the AL Central and secured a Wild Card spot, defeating the Guardians 2-1 in their opening playoff series before being eliminated by the Mariners in a five-game Division Series. This offseason brought about a series of significant moves for Detroit, as they attempt to attain October for the third straight season. Notable Tigers Subtractions Chris Paddack (starting pitcher) Tommy Kahnle (relief pitcher) Alex Cobb (starting pitcher) Alex Lange (relief pitcher) Andy Ibáñez (lefty masher) Justyn-Henry Malloy (third baseman/outfielder) Notable Tigers Additions Framber Valdez (starting pitcher) Justin Verlander (starting pitcher) Kenley Jansen (relief pitcher) Drew Anderson (swingman) Looking at these transactions, it appears the additions outweigh the subtractions for the Tigers. Specifically, Framber Valdez, a playoff-caliber starter, signed a lucrative three-year deal to slot in behind two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. Meanwhile, Tigers legend Justin Verlander returns on a one-year deal, bringing valuable experience to fortify the rotation. Verlander will strengthen a rotation dealing with injuries, though given his age and recent track record, he could be among the injured at times. Drew Anderson is also joining as a depth rotation option, while Kenley Jansen is set to fill the primary closer and high-leverage bullpen role. Three key players who had at least a chance of going elsewhere have also returned. Starter Jack Flaherty exercised his player option for 2026; second baseman Gleyber Torres accepted the qualifying offer of $22.025 million; and trade deadline acquisition Kyle Finnegan hit free agency but ultimately re-signed for two years. Tigers Injuries Jackson Jobe - returning from Tommy John surgery Troy Melton - slowed by elbow inflammation in spring training; will start on 60-day IL Reese Olson - out for the year Key Tigers Players C Dillon Dingler - 3.1 bWAR in 2025 1B Spencer Torkelson - 2.3 bWAR in 2025 2B Gleyber Torres - 2.9 bWAR in 2025 3B Zach McKinstry - 2.8 bWAR in 2025 LHP Tarik Skubal - 6.5 bWAR in 2025 Skubal, embarking on a defense of two straight Cy Young Awards and trying to position himself for a historic free-agent payday, is the most obvious center of gravity for the team, but last year, the club thrived because of its balance. They ranked 11th in runs, 10th in home runs, 12th in OPS, and 16th in batting average last season. Their 61 steals, however, were last in MLB. Top Tigers Prospects Kevin McGonigle - SS Max Clark - OF Josue Briceno - C/1B Bryce Rainer - SS Thayron Liranzo - C/1B Observers are especially optimistic about Kevin McGonigle, a likely early-season call-up—if he's not on the Opening Day roster. Max Clark, taken just before Walker Jenkins in the 2023 MLB Draft, will be compared to Jenkins as their careers unfold in the AL Central. Tigers Spring Storylines (and Beyond) Verlander's triumphant return and Skubal's potentially imminent exit loom large, but the team is trying to establish a winning identity that will stretch beyond this year and those two players. At 25, Riley Greene is expected to continue progressing toward stardom. Emerging talents like Colt Keith, McGonigle, and Clark could shape the Tigers’ future core. When and how well Jobe returns from Tommy John surgery will be a major storyline, too. Beyond Jansen, Finnegan and Vest line up for late innings. However, the work of the pen will be spread very evenly. A.J. Hinch has earned considerable praise for his nimble usage of an often motley relief crew. What he dubbed 'pitching chaos' during the 2024 playoffs has been an effective tack for keeping order over the last year and a half, leading to two straight overachieving seasons. The Tigers are expected to remain competitive in the AL Central in 2026. Projected Tigers Lineup Parker Meadows - CF Gleyber Torres - 2B Riley Greene - LF Spencer Torkelson - 1B Kerry Carpenter - DH Dillon Dingler - C Colt Keith - 3B Matt Vierling/Wenceel Pérez - RF Zach McKinstry - SS Note: Javier Báez is an option off the bench with this lineup—and could sometimes be the starting shortstop, with McKinstry shifting to third base, like he played last year. Projected Tigers Rotation Tarik Skubal - LHP Framber Valdez - LHP Justin Verlander - RHP Jack Flaherty - RHP Casey Mize - RHP Projected Tigers Record PECOTA: 2nd place, 83-79 Fangraphs: 1st place, 85-77 If everyone stays healthy, the Tigers are the favorite to win the Central this year. They seem to have improved overall in the offseason, and are looking for the young core group to take a step forward and see if they can get past the Division Series. View full article