The Spring Signal, March 5th
Prospects knocking on the door, big time injury shake up
SPRING TRAINING STANDOUTS
Ryan Bergert
Coming over to Kansas City from San Diego last trade deadline, Bergert was a streamer starting pitcher in my fantasy leagues in 2025. On Tuesday, Ryan went three innings, striking out four, giving up no hits but walking one. He started the game against Cuba.
The fastball stat line is slightly concerning, but that slider line. A 62.5% SwStr%!!! Let’s see how that pitch comps to others in the league.
Some solid comparisons. Keep an eye on Bergert; if he can reign in his BB%, we will see Bergert in the big-league rotation sooner rather than later.
Kevin McGonigle
Top prospect Kevin McGonigle is making a statement this Spring. He needs to be starting at shortstop on Opening Day for the Tigers. In fact, Roster Resource has slotted him in this role and batting lead off!
This lineup is just so much better with his name in it. He does not strike out (11.6% K%), he has a 90.9% Zone contact%, and he hits for power (.550 SLG in AA). On Tuesday night, he continued to impress during games by homering off of Luis Severino in an exhibition against the Dominican to lead off the game (110.4 mph EV). I cannot get enough of this guy. It is genuine roster malpractice to send this guy down to begin the season. If Detroit wants to contend for another playoff run this season, Kevin needs to be a part of it.
Richard Fitts
Dicky Fitts was tied for the lead in whiffs yesterday. He did face a pretty weak Nicaragua lineup, but he still put up some good stuff. Getting whiffs on his sinker, slider, four-seam, and sweeper. An interesting tidbit: Fitts has gained 2 mph on his sinker, fastball, and slider.
He is currently not projected to make the Opening Day rotation; if anything, he could take the SP5 role and push Leahy to long relief. He will need to continue to pitch well this Spring to do so.
Vance Honeycutt
The 2024 first-round pick for the O’s struggled tremendously in 2025. Sporting a 41% K% in just A+ ball. Coming out of UNC, we all knew it was a power bat with a lot of swing and miss. Vance made sure we all remember the power aspect of his game this Spring. In just 4 plate appearances, he has hit 4 home runs. Every single time he gets a chance, he goes yard. That is insane.
https://x.com/MLB/status/2029290469943812353?s=20
Substack had tweet embedding working for a bit, but now it doesn’t seem to work, so we’ll sometimes just give you the direct links. The X API is very screwy and annoying (this is Jon).
INJURY NEWS
Hunter Greene
In an already injury-plagued 2025 campaign, Greene was dealing with elbow soreness at the end of last season. Since they were in the middle of a playoff push, Hunter pushed through it, receiving, from what I understand, a PRP injection. Greene felt fine over the offseason and had a flare-up a week before camp before shutting it down and getting more MRI’s. Hunter is quoted as saying, “I know I have bone spurs, but as of now, there’s no UCL damage”. We will see what the MRI reveals, but for now, I would avoid Greene like the plague.
According to Charlie Goldsmith, Greene is dealing with a right elbow.
The Three Hamatsketeers
→ Corbin Carroll - Involved with physical drills just one day after surgery. As of this week, per manager Torey Lovullo, Carroll has progressed from taking swings off a tee and soft toss to now more traditional batting practice swings. It seems most likely that, of the three, Corbin will be ready come Opening Day.
→ Francisco Lindor - Playing catch and partaking in defensive drills. Likely to begin swinging a bat this week. Unclear if he will be ready for Opening Day.
→Jackson Holliday - Has been participating in baserunning and defensive workouts. Will begin to swing a bat on Thursday, March 5th. It looks like Holliday will just miss the first 10 days of the season at this point.
Felix Bautista
Since August of 2025, the Orioles have been without closer Felix Bautista. Today, Wednesday, March 4th, he was cleared to throw on flat ground. Felix is recovering from a torn labrum and rotator cuff. The surgery has a 12-month recovery period, so he will be striving to rehab to join a healthy playoff-bound O’s team that needs back-end of the bullpen help. It creates an interesting situation since they signed closer Ryan Helsley over the offseason.
Bryce Miller
Slated to begin throwing again after suffering inflammation in his left side. Should be good to go. Good news!!