MLB Spring Training is over, and the 2026 baseball season is upon us! As teams put the final touches on their Opening Day rosters, let’s look at some of the biggest headlines across the league.
10. Grayson Rodriguez starts on the Angels IL
The Angels have always struggled with pitching, but missing the ace they traded for ranks high on the Halo’s biggest worries this year. Rodriguez didn’t throw a single regular-season pitch with Baltimore in 2025 after missing the season due to a right lat strain,
and his return has been delayed due to severe arm weakness, known as ‘dead arm.’ Rodriguez’s absence makes trading Taylor Ward away look like a huge mistake right now.
9. Konnor Griffin misses Opening Day
MLB’s No. 1 prospect will have to wait to pencil in his debut date. The Pirates’ 2024 first-round pick made a splash in his first year in the minors, slashing .333/.415/.527 while belting 24 home runs and 94 RBIs from Single to Double-A ball. For the first time in a blue moon, Pittsburgh is making the right call not to rush Griffin to the majors. While he has the highest odds of being the NL Rookie of the Year, he can wait an extra month or two to earn the accolade.
8. Atlanta’s rotation is plagued with injuries
What should’ve been a bounce-back year is already starting on the wrong foot for the Braves. Atlanta can create their own rotation from injured starters alone. Ace Spencer Strider is out for at least two weeks, with Spencer Schwellenbach also sidelined for a few months. Losing that much production will sting.
7. Hyeseong Kim starts season in Dodgers Triple-A
Dave Roberts has too many great players and not enough roster spots. Utility player Kim was optioned to the Oklahoma City Comets ahead of Opening Day. His strong .280/.314/.385 slash line and 13 stolen bases off the bench last year wasn’t enough to beat out LA’s No. 8 prospect Alex Freeland. Kim won’t be in Triple-A long, though, whether it’s with the Dodgers or another organization.
6. No lefties in the Dbacks bullpen
The MO for general managers is to have a fair mix of lefty and righty pitchers to keep batters on the tips of their cleats. Still, the Arizona Diamondbacks took an unconventional, and likely unintentional, approach to finalizing their pitching staff. Maybe GM Mike Hazen is taking a Billy Beane approach, ignoring the psychology- and performance-driven strategies that have dominated roster construction and pitching changes. Or, perhaps it’s just a fun coincidence. Either way, it will be fun to see how this decision shakes out.
5. Top prospect JJ Wetherholt makes Cardinals roster
The projected best player in St. Louis will headline the lineup on Opening Day. Although he struggled during Spring Training, Wetherholt taxed pitchers last year with a .306 batting average, .421 on-base percentage, and 72 walks. His high offensive ceiling and speed should be enough to bring fans to one of the most underrated ballparks in the league.
4. Rangers break Opening Day news to Carter Baumler on the mound
What’s the best way to learn that you’ve made the Opening Day roster as a Rule 5 Draft pick? If you didn’t say during a game during a mound visit, you’re wrong. Texas manager Skip Schumaker marched to the mound after five straight outs from Baumler, not to send him to the dugout, but to break the great news. This is another reason why it’s impossible not to be romantic about baseball.
3. Luis Gil loses Yankees rotation gig
The Bronx made the tough decision to option 2024 Rookie of the Year Gil to Triple-A. Despite pitching well after spending nearly half the season on the IL, Aaron Boone claims that the Yankees don’t need a fifth starter until mid-April, with roster priority being given to reliever Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest and relievers Jake Bird and Brent Headrick. Why give the ball to a reliable guy when you can experiment with three less-proven players?
2. Detroit’s Kevin McGoingle set to make his debut
The Tigers’ star shortstop prospect is ready to get to work. The 2023 draft pick has quickly made a name for himself, tallying three-straight .300+ batting average, .400+ on-base percentage, and .850 on-base plus slugging percentage seasons across his minor league stints. Detroit is making an interesting decision to have McGoingle skip Triple-A and go straight to the majors, but if it works out, it’ll look genius.
1. Chase DeLauter secures locker in Guardians clubhouse
MLB’s No. 46 overall prospect will be in Seattle’s right field to start the season after a Spring Training that went exactly how Cleveland fans hoped. DeLauter’s exceptional .459/.535/.838 slash line, three home runs, 10 runs driven in, and 10 runs scored with only four strikeouts in 14 games has the Guardians and baseball fans across the nation pumped to see this young stud’s first at-bats.
