
Articles

Connor Norby Builds Six-Game Hitting Streak
Baltimore Orioles infield prospect Connor Norby was one of three Baltimore farmhands featured in our Hot Prospects list this week. He makes good contact, showcasing a strong awareness of the entire strike zone. He also has plenty of power for a second baseman, boasting the potential to go yard 30-plus times in a single season. […]
Andersen Pickard
Cade Povich Opens Year With Two Strong Outings
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Cade Povich was no stranger to our Hot Prospects series last year, and he quickly returns to the list in 2024. The southpaw has a solid four-pitch mix headlined by his mid-90s fastball, but he's just as effective when throwing his slider, curveball, and changeup. Control has been an issue for […]
Andersen Pickard
Heston Kjerstad Coming Off Historic Week
Baltimore Orioles prospect Heston Kjerstad is a household name at this point, and he even appeared in 12 big-league games last season. A deep Orioles roster led to Kjerstad opening the 2024 campaign at Triple-A, but he's become nearly impossible to keep down at this point. He possesses impressive strength and bat speed, using these […]
Andersen Pickard
Hot MLB Prospects to Watch for Fantasy Baseball - Week 2
Welcome back, RotoBallers! We're heading into Week 2 of the fantasy baseball season. The minor league baseball season also got started last week, providing us with plenty of big plays and impressive prospect performances. It's imperative to monitor the top fantasy baseball prospects who have turned heads thus far. The players listed here are not […]
Andersen Pickard
Jordan Beck Showcases Power In Opening Series
Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Jordan Beck starred at the University of Tennessee and has continued to produce in the Rockies' system. The 22-year-old is a four-tool player whose biggest deficiency is his limited contact skills. He has improved his ability to read the strike zone over time but still struggles with strikeouts, of which he […]
Andersen Pickard
Quinn Priester Strikes Out Nine In Opener
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Quinn Priester no longer has true prospect eligibility by MLB's standards, but he should be viewed as one given that he is 23 years old, still in Triple-A, and has 10 big league appearances under his belt. The right-hander gets good velocity behind his mid-90s heater and misses plenty of bats […]
Andersen Pickard
Joey Loperfido Slugs Three Homers In Opening Series
Houston Astros prospect Joey Loperfido ranks third among the club's outfield prospects but boasts the potential to be an everyday standout in the majors. He runs well, has a strong blend of contact and power, and boasts positional versatility with his ability to play the outfield, first base, or second base. These strengths certainly make […]
Andersen Pickard
Slade Cecconi Unhittable In Season Opener
Arizona Diamondbacks pitching prospect Slade Cecconi was selected 33rd overall pick in the 2020 draft. He appeared in seven MLB games last season but retains his prospect status. Furthermore, given the Diamondbacks' strong rotation, there was simply no room for Cecconi in the Opening Day rotation. The right-hander boasts an impressive four-pitch mix, and while […]
Andersen Pickard
Wenceel Perez Off To Hot Start
Detroit Tigers shortstop Wenceel Perez has gradually climbed through the farm system since being signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2016. He made his Triple-A debut last season and looked solid, reaching base at a high rate and maintaining a K/BB rate near 1.0. He lacks power and struggles to hit left-handed pitching but […]
Andersen Pickard
Six MLB Managers on the Hot Seat in 2024
Baseball is a results-driven sport, so if an organization doesn't win enough games and fails to meet expectations, ownership may step in and implement a leadership change. This can include front-office realignment, dismissing the general manager, or dismissing the manager. Even before the 2024 MLB season gets underway, we have a strong sense of which […]
Andersen Pickard
Highest-Paid MLB Players in 2024 - Baseball Contract Analysis
New Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani completely dismantled the market for years to come (and rightfully so) with the enormous contract he signed this past offseason. That got us thinking: which other MLB players are rolling in the dough? Factors like deferred money, performance incentives, options, and buyouts can impact how players receive money […]
Andersen Pickard
Which New Cities Will Get MLB Teams? Top Contenders Ahead of League Expansion
Professional sports have no universal standard for how many teams can exist in an individual league. There is no uniformity even in the United States' four major pro sports (football, basketball, baseball, and hockey). The NFL has 32 teams, which can be easier to schedule for regular-season and playoff purposes because it is divisible by […]
Andersen Pickard
Is Odell Beckham Jr. A Free Agent? Which Teams Would Be The Best Fit? Fantasy Football Outlook
NFL free agency is here! The legal tampering period began on Monday at noon EDT, meaning several big names agreed to terms with new teams, including a significant number of players with legitimate fantasy football relevance. However, Odell Beckham Jr. is still available on the free agent market. What value does Odell Beckham Jr. provide? […]
Andersen Pickard
NFL Power Rankings: Top 10 Free Agent Wide Receivers In 2024
NFL free agency kicks off on Monday when the legal tampering period opens at noon EDT. As soon as the clock strikes 12, all 32 NFL teams can begin negotiating contracts with free agents. So far this offseason, we've already seen three high-profile wide receiver moves as Mike Evans signed a two-year extension and Michael […]
Andersen Pickard
Is Austin Ekeler A Free Agent? Which Teams Would Be The Best Fit? Fantasy Football Outlook
NFL free agency begins this week with the legal tampering period, which opens on Monday at noon EDT. There are plenty of star free agents available, including a significant number of players with legitimate fantasy football relevance. One such player is Austin Ekeler, who is slated to test the open market after allowing his contract […]
Andersen Pickard
Restricted vs. Unrestricted Free Agents: NFL Offseason Terms Explained
The NFL offseason brings plenty of excitement with key events like free agency and the NFL Draft. However, this can also be a confusing time for fans who have to navigate unfamiliar terms. Before NFL free agency gets underway, it’s important to understand the difference between restricted and unrestricted free agents. What is the difference […]
Andersen Pickard
Kenta Maeda Shaky In Latest Spring Outing
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Kenta Maeda allowed two runs, four hits, and two walks over three innings of work against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. He also struck out one batter. After surrendering zero earned runs in his 2024 Spring Training debut last week, Maeda was roughed up this time around. With that said, […]
Andersen Pickard
Daulton Varsho Drawing More Walks This Spring
Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Daulton Varsho went 3-for-3 with three RBI in his first game this Spring Training back on February 24. However, his output has dwindled since then as he's 0-for-10 over his last five games. On a positive note, he does have four walks, one stolen base, and just one strikeout during […]
Andersen Pickard
Nick Lodolo Will Pitch Sunday, Regular Season Debut TBD
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (tibia) is progressing well and will pitch in Sunday's Spring Training game, manager David Bell told the media. Although Lodolo will return to face opposing batters this weekend, he's still a few hurdles away from being fully ramped up. As a result, Bell said that Lodolo "probably isn't in […]
Andersen Pickard
Dodgers Won't Commit To Gavin Lux As Primary Shortstop
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux hasn't been penciled in as the team's primary shortstop quite yet, reports Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. While the club was adamant heading into Spring Training that Lux would be their starting shortstop, they have since become non-committal on the topic, largely due to Lux's throwing issues as he […]
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Nathaniel Lowe Experiencing Side Tightness
Texas Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe (side) experienced tightness prior to Thursday's Spring Training game, according to manager Bruce Bochy. Lowe was replaced in the Rangers' lineup by Jared Walsh, but his absence was merely a precaution, the veteran skipper noted. Even if Lowe remains sidelined for a couple more games, he should return for […]
Andersen Pickard
Walker Buehler Throws Two Innings Against Hitters
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler (elbow) threw two innings against hitters on Thursday, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Buehler is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is expected to miss the start of the 2024 season. However, it is still promising to hear that not only did he face hitters, but […]
Andersen Pickard
Nestor Cortes Jr. Lasts Four Innings In Latest Spring Start
New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. allowed just one hit — a solo home run — during Sunday's Spring Training game against the Detroit Tigers. He also issued just one walk, struck out three batters, and lasted four innings, which was an increase over his previous start (2.2 innings). Despite the somewhat mixed […]
Andersen Pickard
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Drives In Run Against San Diego
Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 1-for-3 with an RBI single during Tuesday's Spring Training game against the San Diego Padres. The 30-year-old hasn't skipped a beat since re-signing with the National League champion Diamondbacks during the offseason. He slashed .261/.309/.463 with 24 homers and a 106 wRC+ last year, and he is […]
Andersen Pickard
Nathan Eovaldi Strikes Out Five In Latest Spring Outing
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi struck out five batters over three innings of work during his outing against the Milwaukee Brewers last week. He allowed just one run on two hits along the way, showing off impressive control and efficiency. The right-hander remains effective heading into his age-34 season and will look to build […]
Andersen Pickard
Shota Imanaga Roughed Up In Spring Debut
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga allowed three runs and three hits, including one home run, over 2.1 innings of work during his Spring Training debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers last Saturday. On a more positive note, he struck out five batters and did not issue a walk. One of this offseason's most appealing […]
Andersen Pickard
Nick Madrigal Undergoes MRI, Cubs Not Overly Concerned
Chicago Cubs third baseman Nick Madrigal (hamstring) underwent an MRI on Wednesday, manager Craig Counsell told Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune. Counsell seemed to downplay the injury, suggesting that Madrigal's MRI was mainly precautionary and that he remains in good shape. It's worth noting that Madrigal spent time on the 60-day injured list last […]
Andersen Pickard
Jose Trevino Slated To Make Spring Debut Sunday
New York Yankees catcher Jose Trevino (calf) is scheduled to return to the lineup on Sunday, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. The veteran backstop has been sidelined for most of Spring Training with a calf injury he suffered after recovering from wrist surgery. The 31-year-old had a strong season defensively last year but took […]
Andersen Pickard
What Is The NFL Legal Tampering Period And When Does It Start?
The NFL offseason brings an exciting sequence of events and benchmarks. From free agency to the draft to training camp, football fans can remain enthralled by all of the sport's behind-the-scenes components even when there aren't meaningful games to watch. One major offseason checkpoint is fast approaching in March: the legal tampering period. What is […]
Andersen Pickard
Franchise Tag vs. Transition Tag: NFL Offseason Terms Explained
The NFL offseason can remain a very hectic time of year, even though no games are played. This time of year, it can be difficult to follow every single rumor, let alone understand what each one means. Obscure phrases are thrown around left and right, leaving fans somewhat confused, perplexed, or even completely lost. We […]
Andersen Pickard