The World Baseball Classic dominated
The World Baseball Classic dominated the conversation in baseball over most of the past month. But a lot was going on in the 30 major league camps that didn’t get much attention–new faces in new places, players and teams tinkering in an effort to fuel their playoff hopes, personalities manifesting, young talent making strong first impressions and more.
What did you miss this spring? Which players stood out? And who should you watch as the 2026 MLB season begins? Here are some things to know from around the majors.
Kevin McGonigle could play a big role in Detroit this year :-
Last year, Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch brought McGonigle– a minor leaguer in the Tigers’ farm system whom Detroit selected number. 37 in the 2023 draft– to a spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies. McGonigle attended high school about 10 miles from Citizens Bank Park and grew up a fan of the Phillies and second baseman Chase Utley.
That day, McGonigle smashed a home run off the Phillis’ Aaron Nola– and as Hinch noted, raced around the bases in about 1.3 seconds, riding his excitement.
McGonigle brought that same energy again
McGonigle brought that same energy again this spring– and it’s kind of enthusiasm that seems tangible in its impact compare him to Dustin Pedroia, or Hinch’s comp: Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve. Mc Gonigle, a 5- foot-9 infielder, is ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel’s number.2- ranked prospect and has had an excellent spring showing, mustering a .977 OPS and .432 on-base percentage.
He has played well defensively, at shortstop and third season with the the Tigers or is held back in the minor leagues a couple of weeks– he figures to help Detroit in the big leagues sooner rather than later.
“He know the strike zone,” Hinch said. “Guys who know the strike zone are going to have a good chance to be the best version of themselves faster. With Kevin, he’s versatile –he plays more positions than Jose [Altuve] did when I got him; his baseball acumen is super strong.”
Being compared to any
Being compared to any of those players– Pedroia, Bregman, Altuve– “is pretty ramarkable for a young player who we expect to be a big part of our team as early as this year,”Hinch said.
Earlier this week, McGonigle– playing third base– ranged across the foul line to field a wou;d-be double and threw out Baltimore Orioles first baseman Coby Mayo. Detroit’s Justin Verlander pointed in Mcgonigle’s direction, in acknowledgment of the rookie’s defense. Afterward, Verlander told reporters, “Those are the plays, as a starting pitcher, that’s the difference between a leadoff double and an out.” That can be the difference in the ballgame. Those are huge momentum shifts for me.”
Will Mauricio Dubon’s offseason hobby help his patience at the plate?
Dubon walked up to the cage for a round of batting practice at the Atlanta Braves’ camp in North Port, Florida, and said to hitting coach Tim Hyers that he had some success in his burgeoning career– as a fisherman. “I got two catfish,” Dubon said, holding up two fingers, and he explained that he was very careful in releasing his catch because of the sharp in their fins. “You got to protect those moneymakers,” Hyers said, nodding.
Dubon, 31, has played in the big leagues over the past seven seasons, two of those for one of baseball’s great fishermen– former Houston Astros skipper Dusty Baker, who managed Nicaragua in the recently completed World Baseball Classic.
Baker was not surprised that Dubon had taken up fishing; Baker was surprised that Dubon had never really fished before, having been born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, not far from the Caribbean Sea.
Baker found that fishing relaxes him
Baker found that fishing relaxes him, and he believes it helped him learn how to hit because it required patience and attention to decause it required patience and attention to detail. “You sometimes have to wait for seven, eight pitches before you get a pitch to hit, “Baker said. “That’s Like fishing — you get an opportunity, you have to be ready for it. You can’t miss it.”
Bker would sometimes use fish to make his point to hitters, asking them: Did they want to jump at everything and get minimal results, like a bluegill, or did they want to wait for– are you a bluegill, or a tilapia?” Baker said, chuckling.