What to watch for (23 Feb)

Spring Training is in full swing now. I’m fired up like an Aroldis Chapman fastball for today’s baseball.

Today, we have a slate packed with intriguing arms to watch across the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues, featuring veterans, young guns hungry for glory, and bounce-back stories. Lets dive into what to watch for today.

Drew Rasmussen (Rays)

Kevin Cash has already announced that Drew Rasmussen will be the Opening Day ace for the Rays this season. Rasmussen had a breakout campaign in 2022 and was in discussions as a Cy Young candidate for 2023. Then injures happened and Rasmussen would miss most of the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Rasmussen made his return to starting pitching last season. The Rays carefully managed his workload, and Rasmussen delivered an All-Star campaign (2.76 ERA, 21.7 K%, 6.3 BB%, 150 IP). This year, the Rays plan to let him pitch deeper into games. At this stage of the season, I just want to see that Drew looks healthy and that his fastball and cutter one-two punch is still effective. If so, he will have another great season.

Connelly Early (Red Sox)

Early began 2025 in Double-A and by the end of the season the young southpaw started in a crucial playoff game against the Yankees. Early is a highly touted lefty that could be battling for the 5th spot in the Red Sox rotation. Definitely one to watch over this Spring. There’s a lot of excitement in Boston about Early and you can understand why. Look for his changeup. It his best pitch, but I want to see a lower out-of-zone contact rate on this pitch.

Mick Abel (Twins)

Abel was once a Top 50 prospect. He got traded to the Twins from the Phillies and struggeld with the Twins last season, posting a 8.36 ERA in four appearances. There was one game though where he showed flashes of his potential against the Phillies. He pitched six scoreless innings , striking out nine. Can the Twins extract more of this from Abel? Lets watch and see during Spring. I will specifically look to see if he has an effective slider and what does his fastball command look like?

Tarik Skubal (Tigers)

Well, there’s nothing to specifically watch for other than just enjoying this man’s craft on the mound. Back-to-back Cy Young awards says it all. Just a joy to watch on the mound. His changeup is just filthy and must watch TV.

Garrett Baumann (Braves)

The fourth round pick in 2023 is a towering six-foot-eight, 245 pounds. He posted a 3.40 ERA in minor league ball last season and throws a fastball that is high-90s. He generally has good command. One issue is that he doesn’t generate much whiffs. His secondary pitches need to improve. This is what to look for today – does he have a secondary pitchthat can generate whiffs? If he can, watch out for this guy!

Eury Perez (Marlins)

Always tune in when Eury Perez takes the mound. He has an electrifying fastball with triple-digit heat. He’s hoping for his first full season after returning from Tommy John surgery in 2025. I want to see that his fastball creates hop at the top of the zone and any refinements in his sweeper and sinker.

Michael McGreevy (Cardinals)

McGreevy is competing for a spot in the Cardinals’ rotation. He will need a put-away pitch after a 14.5% strikeout rate last season. Look to see if he has developed anything over the offseason. Look for a changeup. McGreevy has elite control, posting a 5% walk rate. His sinker generates a lot of groundballs and lives off the bottom of the zone.

Logan Gilbert (Mariners)

Gilbert is coming off a 2025 season where he maintained a string 3.44 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 11.9 K/9. He’s a top tier pitcher to watch. Offseason reports suggest he has improved his arsenal, specifically his curveball, so look out for this. Can he maintain his high strikeout rates?

Enjoy the baseball today!