The global baseball tournament seized the spotlight in the sport for much of the preceding month. Nevertheless, considerable activity unfolded across the thirty top-tier team training sites, largely overlooked — fresh individuals in novel environments, athletes and clubs adjusting strategies to ignite their championship aspirations, distinct characters emerging, budding stars leaving memorable initial marks, among other happenings.
What noteworthy events escaped your notice this spring? Which athletes distinguished themselves? And whom should you observe as the 2026 Major League Baseball campaign commences? Presented here are several insights from across the big leagues.
Kevin McGonigle might assume a significant position in Detroit this season
During the previous year, A.J. Hinch, the Detroit Tigers’ manager, invited McGonigle — a budding player within the Tigers’ developmental program, chosen 37th overall by Detroit in the 2023 draft — to a preseason match facing the Philadelphia Phillies. McGonigle’s secondary education took place approximately ten and a half miles from Citizens Bank Park, and he cultivated an affinity for the Phillies and their second baseman, Chase Utley, throughout his youth. On that particular day, McGonigle powerfully hit a home run against the Phillies’ Aaron Nola — and, as Hinch observed, he sprinted around the bases in roughly 1.3 seconds, propelled by his exhilaration.
McGonigle exhibited a similar vigor once more this spring — and this type of zeal appears to have a discernible effect on his teammates, prompting assessors to liken him to Dustin Pedroia, or, as Hinch himself compares him: Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve. McGonigle, an infielder standing 5 feet 9 inches tall, holds the second-highest prospect ranking by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and has demonstrated a superb preseason performance, achieving a .977 OPS and a .432 on-base percentage. His defensive play has been strong, both at shortstop and third base, and regardless of whether McGonigle starts the season with the Tigers or is retained in the minor leagues for a few weeks — a move that would postpone his free agency by twelve months — he is expected to contribute to Detroit in the major leagues without much delay.
“He possesses an understanding of the strike zone,” Hinch remarked. “Players who comprehend the strike zone will likely have a better opportunity to quickly realize their full potential. Regarding Kevin, he exhibits versatility — he mans more positions than Jose [Altuve] did when I first coached him; his understanding of baseball is exceptionally keen.”
To be likened to any of those athletes — Pedroia, Bregman, Altuve — “is quite extraordinary for a developing player whom we anticipate will become a crucial member of our squad as early as this current year,” Hinch stated.
At the start of this week, McGonigle — while stationed at third base — sprinted beyond the foul boundary to successfully retrieve what appeared to be a double, subsequently retiring Baltimore Orioles first baseman Coby Mayo. Justin Verlander of Detroit gestured towards McGonigle, recognizing the newcomer’s defensive prowess. Following the game, Verlander informed journalists, “Such plays, for a starting hurler, delineate the distinction between a leadoff two-bagger and an out.”
“That specific action can determine the outcome of the contest. For me, those represent immense shifts in impetus.”
Could Mauricio Dubon’s seasonal break pursuit foster greater discipline at bat?
Dubon approached the batting cage for a session of practice swings at the Atlanta Braves’ facility in North Port, Florida, and informed hitting coach Tim Hyers of his recent accomplishments in his burgeoning pastime — that of an angler. “I managed to catch two catfish,” Dubon declared, displaying two digits, and elaborated on his extreme caution when releasing his quarry due to the pointed spines in their fins. “One must safeguard those income-generators,” Hyers responded, assenting.
Dubon, at 31 years of age, has participated in major league games for the last seven campaigns, dedicating two of them to one of baseball’s renowned anglers — Dusty Baker, the erstwhile manager of the Houston Astros, who led Nicaragua in the recently concluded World Baseball Classic. Baker found it unsurprising that Dubon had embraced fishing; however, Baker was astonished that Dubon had never truly engaged in the activity prior, considering he was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, a location proximate to the Caribbean Sea.
Baker discovered that angling provided him tranquility, and he posited that it aided his batting technique development due to its demands for patience and meticulousness. “Occasionally, one must await seven or eight pitches before encountering a hittable offering,” Baker articulated. “That parallels fishing — when an opening arises, readiness is paramount. You cannot squander it.”
Baker occasionally employed fish as an analogy to convey his message to batters, inquiring: Did they wish to eagerly pursue every offering and achieve meager outcomes, akin to a bluegill, or did they prefer to exercise restraint for a superior opportunity, much like a tilapia? “I would inquire of them — are you a bluegill, or a tilapia?” Baker uttered, chortling.
Might this prove to be a pivotal campaign for Matt McLain?
McLain was formerly regarded as a top-tier prospect, much like McGonigle is perceived currently. Subsequent to his selection by the Cincinnati Reds as the 17th pick in the 2021 draft, McLain registered an OPS+ of 127 during his inaugural season in 2023. However, he sustained a shoulder ailment in 2024, causing him to miss the entire season, and subsequently, his OPS+ sharply declined to 74 in the previous year.
This preseason, he has performed extraordinarily, achieving a batting average exceeding .500 with 21 base hits in his initial 41 plate appearances, encompassing six home runs. Terry Francona, the Reds’ manager, recognized the customary March caveat — indeed, it is preseason practice — yet appended via text: “It has been a delightful observation. He has utilized the whole playing area much more effectively, thereby reducing his instances of whiffing. The ball departs his bat with considerably more force than one might expect from an individual of his stature.”
McLain, standing 5 feet 8 inches and weighing 180 pounds, aims to reclaim his 2023 performance level this campaign.
“This marks his second active season subsequent to his shoulder trauma, and he feels well and at ease in training camp,” stated Nick Krall, the Reds’ general manager. “He is executing quality plate appearances, and his swing path is directly towards the ball.”
Tarik Skubal disregards distractions and concentrates on 2026
Immediately following Skubal’s reception of news regarding his $32 million arbitration triumph against the Tigers, Hinch contacted him and inquired, in essence: Are you prepared to contend for a World Series championship? Skubal’s response was instantaneous: Affirmatively.
Throughout the unfolding of that procedure, no doubt lingered within the Tigers’ organization concerning a potential arbitration aftereffect for Skubal, regardless of the outcome — nor about whether Skubal would rededicate himself, return to his duties, and fully commit to his fellow players. For that has perpetually been his inherent inclination.
His capacity for mental segregation is distinct in the manner he assimilates instant reactions and engages in competition — at times even jesting at his own expense or with adversaries during contests before firmly re-engaging for the subsequent delivery. “He desires precise knowledge of your thoughts,
and he internalizes it, then advances,” Hinch stated in a recent dialogue. “I find no necessity to embellish anything regarding him.”
Prior to Skubal’s participation with Team USA in the WBC, he was slated to hurl demonstration frames against the Toronto Blue Jays on a radiant day in Lakeland, Florida. While proceeding from the dugout towards the pitcher’s mound, he observed that Laz Diaz, the home plate umpire, had inadvertently thrown a pair of baseballs to the mound’s edge, instead of a single one. Skubal, with a smirk, called out to Diaz and playfully raised his arms aloft, as if querying: What exactly is happening here? Diaz chuckled.
Subsequently, Skubal reverted to his task, aggressively targeting the strike zone and collaborating with backstop Jake Rogers, despite Skubal’s difficulties with accuracy on that particular day. “From an execution standpoint, it was quite poor today,” Skubal commented. “Nevertheless, it’s acceptable. Such is the nature of the sport. One experiences and gains knowledge from it.”
In his self-evaluation, he proves forthright and candid, deeming embellishments superfluous. This frankness, however, does not extend to his colleagues, for whom he harbors profound gratitude—and he demonstrates it.
Skubal has bestowed Rolex timepieces upon his catchers subsequent to clinching American League Cy Young Awards for the preceding two seasons. Rogers received all of Skubal’s throws in 2024, and following Skubal’s triumph in securing his second Cy Young last autumn, he reconnected with Rogers, who had only caught six of Skubal’s 31 regular-season outings, informing him he would receive another timepiece. “There’s no obligation for you to do so,” Rogers remarked, yet Skubal remained resolute, asserting that Rogers and Dillon Dingler—Skubal’s principal catcher in 2025—would select their own watches.
At the start of training camp, both backstops discovered packages resting on their seats within the Tigers’ spring locker room. “GRATITUDE DILLON,” the inscription on the package’s face proclaimed, which struck Skubal as illogical, as he pointed out to Dingler. “I have never addressed you as Dillon, not once.” Simply, Ding.
New York prioritized base-running in the previous year — and now it’s Atlanta’s moment
Juan Soto pilfered 57 bases across his initial seven major league campaigns, figures considered ordinary for an athlete possessing typical swiftness. Yet, last year, Soto collaborated with New York Mets first-base coach Antoan Richardson and developed a strong commitment to improving his base-running prowess. Paul Goldschmidt, a seasoned first baseman widely regarded as among the sport’s finest base-runners throughout his tenure, asserts that anyone can excel at base-running if they genuinely commit to it.
Soto appeared to achieve this, absconding with 38 bases while being caught only on four occasions; it was as if his meticulousness from his focused plate appearances extended onto the bases, facilitated by Richardson’s mentorship.
Subsequent to the Mets’ end-of-season decline, the management initiated a comprehensive overhaul of the coaching personnel, dismissing all members, from pitching coach Jeremy Hefner to the batting instructors. They desired Richardson’s return, nevertheless, and extended an offer to him—but Richardson accepted a more favorable proposal from the Braves, departing New York for its National League East competitor.
This spring, Richardson has initiated discussions regarding the art of base-running among Atlanta’s athletes. Walt Weiss, the fresh Braves manager, immediately discerned a change. “Let’s be realistic—players dislike engaging in base-running [exercises],” he remarked. “However, [Richardson’s] communicating with them, and one observes them circulating the bases with a discernible added vigor. He possesses a knack for capturing their focus.”
In the preceding year, the Braves stood 27th in pilfered bases, and they genuinely did not bolster their squad with any swift base-runners during the off-season—bringing in Mike Yastrzemski, Dubon, and Ha-Seong Kim. Nevertheless, Weiss anticipates they might exhibit greater proficiency on the bases and potentially introduce more variety into their offensive strategy, instead of depending so heavily on the long ball. Across the most recent three seasons, 47% of Atlanta’s scoring output originated from home runs—the second-greatest proportion in major league baseball, according to ESPN’s Paul Hembekides.
Wyatt Langford appears to have arrived at a pivotal moment
Throughout the final 64 contests of the 2025 campaign, Langford seemed to achieve a breakthrough for the Texas Rangers, producing an on-base percentage of .387 and a slugging percentage of .459. This trajectory has persisted this spring, with Langford’s mastery of the strike zone reaching an exceptional tier. He has accumulated more bases on balls (six) than strikeouts (four), complemented by four home runs, and boasts a batting average of .483.
“Many of the top athletes are participating in the WBC,” commented a competing scout, “but he represents the finest batter I have observed here.”
“He possesses the ability to alter the outcome of a game, not merely while batting, but also on the basepaths,” the freshly appointed Rangers manager Skip Schumaker communicated via text, “and is poised to secure a Gold Glove award in the imminent future. I am encountering difficulty identifying any deficiencies, to be frank. He exerts tremendous effort.”
The Yankees are anticipated to see enhanced shortstop performance this season
Regardless of the approach, the New York Yankees appear fated to achieve superior performance at shortstop in 2026. In the preceding year, Anthony Volpe registered an OPS+ of 63 while concurrently experiencing defensive challenges. He underwent surgery on his left shoulder in October to mend a partially torn labrum and is expected back sometime within the initial months of the season. Until that time, Jose Caballero, whom the Yankees obtained at the previous trade deadline, will receive substantial plate appearances at the role. Caballero boasted a 131 OPS+ and 15 pilfered bases across 40 contests in New York, and manager Aaron Boone frequently expresses his admiration for Caballero’s dynamism.
The Yankees, moreover, possess an alternative: Their prime prospect is shortstop George Lombard Jr., selected 26th overall in the 2023 draft. Certain competing assessors contend that Lombard—agile on his feet following years of soccer, and endowed with an exceptional throwing arm—would presently function as a top-tier defender if he were performing in the major leagues. His batting remains the unresolved inquiry. At the age of 20 last season, he spent the majority of the year playing for Double-A Somerset in the Eastern League, where his slash line was .215/.337/.358 after recording .329 in High-A.
The coaching personnel admires not merely his athletic prowess, but also his concentration. James Rowson, the Yankees’ batting coach, posed a query to Lombard regarding his aspirations for this spring, and Lombard hesitated before responding, “Allow me to revert to you on that.” Subsequently, he provided a comprehensive response, and Rowson valued the intellectual commitment.
Lombard will revert to Double-A upon the season’s commencement, yet contingent on his offensive advancement, he might emerge as a major league alternative later in the summer, potentially transforming into a multi-player contest for the shortstop position in New York.