Spring Breakout games are an interesting time for dynasty managers. The games do not matter from a win-loss perspective, and the quality of the rosters can vary greatly depending on how many top prospects a team is willing to play in the exhibition. But for many 2025 draftees or newer international free agents, this is the first time managers will get some advanced public metrics on them, and the last time for quite a while. Some of the experience and pedigree gaps are enormous in these matchups, but that can make the results all the more interesting.
Amidst the buzz of spring training wrapping up and March Madness getting underway, fans had five Spring Breakout games to look forward to. In case you missed yesterday’s action, do not worry. We at Pitcher List have you covered. Keep reading for the full breakdown from yesterday’s games.
Be sure to head over to the Pitcher List Dynasty page for plenty more content from the team.
Spring Training Breakout Games Day 3
Toronto Blue Jays @ Philadelphia Phillies
What We Saw From The Top Prospects From Each Team:
After pitching only two innings following the 2025 MLB Draft, pitcher Gage Wood represented the top Phillies prospect to appear in Saturday’s matchup. The former Arkansas Razorbacks starter showcased his fastball-heavy approach, with 27 of his 44 pitches being heaters. He touched 98.1 mph, but sat more comfortably in the 96 mph range across his three innings. The Blue Jays hitters had few answers for that offering, whiffing against it at a 43% rate. His slider played even better off the fastball than expected, as evidenced by the 45% CSW rate on that pitch. All in all, Wood allowed one earned run and only two hits.
Phillies infielder Aroon Escobar got the scoring started with a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the first. Philadelphia’s sixth-best prospect is likely heading to Double-A to start the season, and he showed out with a two-hit, two-RBI performance.
Toronto’s top prospect was another 2025 draftee in shortstop JoJo Parker. Their second-best prospect was a late-inning replacement who reached base in both of his plate appearances. His single in the seventh registered the game’s highest exit velocity at 109.1 mph off the bat. There were no concerns about his bat-to-ball skills in this one, either.
Which Prospects Struggled:
Toronto’s Adam Macko should be in line for starting pitching depth in 2026, but his Spring Breakout outing was one to forget. The southpaw allowed four hits on 26 pitches, including three earned runs against the Phillies. He was not out of control, but Philadelphia squared up a couple of balls in his lone inning of work. Not ideal for a short appearance in a game like this.
Philadelphia had a late-inning meltdown of its own courtesy of Sean Youngerman. Last year’s fourth-rounder was erratic in his appearance, with two walks to show for it. Add in two hits and only two outs recorded, and the Blue Jays were able to tack three earned runs onto Youngerman’s ledger.
Which Prospects Stood Out the Most:
First baseman and corner outfielder Felix Reyes is not a highly regarded Phillies prospect, but a breakout 2025 season in Double-A has started to attract some attention. He absolutely made a statement in the bottom of the first with a 422-foot home run to center field. That was his lone hit of the day, but it showcased more of the power surge Reyes flashed in 2025.
Another corner infielder had a solid game in Toronto’s Sean Keys. The 22-year-old made the most of the nine hole, finishing with one hit, one walk, and two hard-hit balls on the day. Infielder Juan Sánchez’s performance should not go unnoticed either, as he drove in three runs with a hard-hit double. The 18-year-old is coming off a midseason and postseason All-Star campaign in the Dominican Summer League, where he posted a 1.004 OPS in 56 games. A stateside debut should absolutely be in the cards for the Dominican this season.
Atlanta Braves @ New York Yankees
What We Saw From The Top Prospects From Each Team:
The star of the show for the New York Yankees squad was top prospect George Lombard Jr. Jr. The infielder has already flashed plenty of leather this spring in big-league camp, but the 2023 draftee still needs more seasoning at the plate. His fielding was called into question from the jump, sailing a throw over first on the first batted ball of the game. That need was front and center against the Atlanta Braves, where he struck out twice and went hitless. Five of his seven swings came up empty, which only raises more questions about how far he still has to go with his bat-to-ball skills. This was Lombard’s third Spring Breakout game, so nerves should not be an excuse for any shortcomings on Saturday.
The Braves had a few top-10 prospects in action against the Yankees, with shortstop Tate Southisene leading the way. The 19-year-old is heading into his first full professional season and put together a solid showing as Atlanta’s leadoff man. He had one hit and drew a walk, while also leading the game in hard-hit balls. Southisene still needs to find more optimal launch angles, though, because too much of that solid contact came with minimal impact.
Which Prospects Struggled:
New York’s top pitching prospect to appear was left-hander Kyle Carr, but the starter did not make a strong first impression. The Braves tagged Carr for five hits and five earned runs, with three walks and three strikeouts to go with it. Carr had to live in the heart of the zone too often against Atlanta, and he does not have the kind of raw stuff to survive that approach consistently. Carr only suffered further from a pair of unlucky batted balls at the top of the fourth. He generated only four whiffs on 32 Atlanta swings, and the Braves squared him up repeatedly. Carr threw enough strikes, but the box score tells an ugly story.
I also do not agree much with Atlanta slotting 17-year-old Diego Tornes into the three hole, and the 2025 international signee looked overwhelmed in his plate appearances. He did record a hit, but his two strikeouts showed a much more experienced group of pitchers handling him with ease. Pitcher Owen Murphy belongs in this section as well. He needed 71 pitches to get through only 2.2 innings of work and walked more batters than he struck out. His velocity held throughout the outing, but too many of his pitches landed well above the zone and gave patient Yankees hitters better looks. Murphy has been limited to 71.1 innings across the past two seasons, and the hope is that he shows much more in 2026.
Which Prospects Stood Out the Most:
New York’s Coby Morales was certainly the Yankees’ player of the game, thanks to three hits and all three of his team’s RBI. These were not cheap hits either, with his two hardest-hit balls coming off the bat at 105.9 mph and 109.4 mph. He also added a sweet outfield assist, showing off his arm from left field after playing first earlier in the game. He may not have the name recognition of other players, but he showed a high baseball IQ in the Spring Breakout.
https://x.com/NYYPlayerDev/status/2035518846111449487?s=20
Atlanta’s Garrett Baumann caught my attention in his three innings of work. His sinker and four-seam velocity were both consistent and well commanded. The 21-year-old missed bats with all three fastball variants and got some ugly swings from Yankees hitters. He has put together two solid seasons now, and his five strikeouts on Saturday showed what could hopefully be a more complete strikeout arm in 2026.
https://x.com/MLBPipeline/status/2035526020791496817?s=20
Colorado Rockies @ Arizona Diamondbacks
What We Saw From The Top Prospects From Each Team:
The Colorado Rockies kept the family name in the organization when they drafted Ethan Holliday last year, and the teenager had a strong showing against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Batting in the three hole, Holliday had two hits and a walk, including driving in two of Colorado’s three runs. His first-inning double gave Colorado an early lead, and his later single registered a 110.8 mph exit velocity, the highest mark in the game.
https://x.com/MLBPipeline/status/2035499871952605656?s=20
Charlie Condon missed out on Colorado’s Opening Day roster, and his Spring Breakout outing was not exactly an emphatic response. While he did draw two walks, his hardest-hit ball was pounded into the ground for an out, and he struck out once. The Georgia alum’s time will come, but he remains far from a sure thing for the Rockies.
The Diamondbacks rolled out two of their best prospects in outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt and shortstop Kayson Cunningham. Both contributed in different ways, with Cunningham collecting two hits out of the nine hole and Waldschmidt scoring two runs while driving in one. Waldschmidt did register a 108 mph batted ball, but he pounded it into a groundout. The 23-year-old had a strong showing at Double-A last year and could move quickly in 2026.
Which Prospects Struggled:
Rockies outfield prospect Robert Calaz had tremendous runs in 2023 and 2024, but hit a wall in Low-A and started showing more of a strikeout tendency. That ugly trend followed him into the Spring Breakout, where he struck out three times and recorded seven whiffs on eight swings. Calaz has real power, but his hit tool has come under deserved scrutiny over the last calendar year. If deeper dynasty managers were not already worried, they should be now.
The Rockies also ran out their two top pitching prospects, J.B. Middleton and Brody Brecht, and neither turned in a strong showing. The pair combined for six earned runs and seven walks in only two innings, largely because they kept falling behind in the count. Brecht’s velocity sat steadily in the 95-97 mph range, but he struggled to land the fastball in the zone. Middleton had the same issue, just without the above-average velocity. Middleton is entering his first full professional season, and the 2025 draftee still has plenty to prove, much like he did in college.
Arizona’s Patrick Forbes was the Diamondbacks’ top pitching prospect in the Spring Breakout, and he had issues of his own. Forbes’ slider was a good swing-and-miss pitch, but his four-seam and sinker pairing did not land enough in the zone and became easy, hard-hit targets. Control was a weak point for Forbes in college, and the plus fastball he was supposed to bring did not show up against Colorado. He is still early in his professional pitching career, but last year’s 29th overall pick did not live up to the billing in this outing.
Which Prospects Stood Out the Most:
Arizona’s Jose Fernandez is not known for his bat in his lengthy minor-league career, but a breakout slugging season in 2025 kept the 22-year-old on the prospect radar. Dynasty managers should not be betting heavily on the glove-first prospect, but his three hits and three RBI led both teams in this one. His fifth-inning triple was also his hardest-hit ball of the day, coming off the bat at 102.4 mph.
Roldy Brito was Colorado’s Minor League Player of the Year last season, and that momentum carried into the Spring Breakout. The 18-year-old is not known for his power, but he registered four hard-hit balls on the day and finished with two hits. Brito found his way onto dynasty radars last year, and he looks like a candidate for an aggressive promotion to High-A in 2026.
Chicago White Sox @ Los Angeles Dodgers
What We Saw From The Top Prospects From Each Team:
If dynasty managers hoped to see a dominant outing from Chicago White Sox prospect Hagen Smith, they had another thing coming. Smith was not entirely out of control, but he still walked three batters while striking out four. Add in two hits, and the Los Angeles Dodgers tagged him for three earned runs in just 1.2 innings pitched. The velocity was there, and he posted an eye-popping 60% CSW rate on his slider, but the fastball was not well commanded, and Dodgers hitters refused to chase it. Smith still looks like a two-trick pitcher for the most part, and the 2024 draftee needs to add another dependable pitch if he wants to fully realize that big-league ceiling.
The Dodgers had plenty of marquee prospects on the field, and their lineup delivered a superb outing. Josue De Paula, Mike Sirota, James Tibbs III, and Zyhir Hope all had at least one hit and one run scored against the White Sox. Tibbs had the strongest day of the bunch, reaching base every time he came to the plate and driving in three runs with a 401-foot home run in the second inning. His opposite-field shot brought plenty of life to the crowd amid a high-scoring inning from both teams.
https://x.com/Bnicklaus7/status/2035748454618845590?s=20
Which Prospects Struggled:
Outside of Smith’s struggles, White Sox pitcher Christian Oppor had his own battle in a single inning of work. A game-high five walks, coupled with three hits, led to the Dodgers tagging him for five earned runs while he recorded only one strikeout. The southpaw is heading into his third full professional season and did not look like a polished product in this outing. Oppor is largely a two-pitch pitcher right now and could not land either his fastball or changeup for strikes. Despite being a top-10 prospect in the system, a relief outlook has never felt more likely.
Dodgers outfielder Eduardo Quintero led things off for Los Angeles and still managed a hit and an RBI, but the process was far from stellar. Two strikeouts and whiffing on half of his swings, all against sliders, showcased a clear chink in the prospect armor. The Venezuelan still looks like a strong prospect heading into 2026, but this was not a banner Spring Breakout for Quintero.
Which Prospects Stood Out the Most:
Dodgers lefty Zachary Root was unquestionably the hottest pitcher in this Spring Breakout game. The Arkansas alum raised his stock immensely following the 2025 College World Series, and his dominant three innings against the White Sox should draw attention in dynasty leagues. He struck out eight batters and allowed only one hit, doing it all on 53 pitches. Root used five pitches at least 11% of the time, and that diverse mix helped set up an absurd 59% CSW rate on his curveball, which he threw 32% of the time. A better command of the fastball would be ideal, but maybe he can turn that corner in his first full professional season.
Chicago’s William Bergolla stood out from a stacked White Sox infield prospect group. Starting the game at second base and hitting in the two hole, he went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI. The lefty’s prominent hit tool was on display, even if the power still lags far behind. He could be heading back to Double-A after a so-so season in Birmingham last year, but so far, so good this spring.
San Diego Padres @ Chicago Cubs
What We Saw From The Top Prospects From Each Team:
The Chicago Cubs did not send any of their top four prospects to the Spring Breakout, and Kane Kepley did not appear despite being on the roster. Infielder Jefferson Rojas struggled to barrel up much of anything across his 10 swings, including two whiffs for the 20-year-old. He did reach Double-A in 2025 and should head back there to start the season.
The Padres used nine different pitchers in the Spring Breakout, but all eyes were on Kruz Schoolcraft when he took the mound in the third inning. The 2025 draftee topped out at 96.5 mph with his fastball while mixing in the slider and changeup quite a bit. Schoolcraft showed good command of the slider, but he struggled to locate either the fastball or the changeup in the strike zone. That led to two walks in his lone inning of work, but no hits meant no runs allowed either. San Diego’s top prospect was always a raw one during the draft process, and he still looked like one against the Cubs.
https://x.com/dannybarrand_/status/2035536861595058592?s=20
Meanwhile, his batterymate Ethan Salas had a stellar showing against Chicago. The backstop surged to affiliated ball at a very young age but struggled mightily in 2025. His attempt to rebound in 2026 got off to a strong start with a four-RBI showing in the Spring Breakout. He had the hardest-hit balls of any hitter in the game and put one over the right-field fence in the fifth inning.
https://x.com/SammyLev/status/2035576572686868691?s=20
Which Prospects Struggled:
Padres prospect Braedon Karpathios has always had a suspect hit tool, and his three strikeouts in this game only reinforced that outlook. The No. 12 prospect in San Diego’s system struggled to make contact against both the fastball and changeup, though he did at least record a hard-hit ball on a four-seamer in the eighth inning.
The Cubs did not roll out much in the way of high-end pitching prospects, and Chicago also sat several of its more prominent hitters. Derik Alcantara, Angel Cepeda, and Juan Cabada were the only Cubs hitters who came to the plate and failed to reach base against the Padres. Brooks Caple, a 23-year-old unranked Cubs prospect, allowed three runs, but he is hardly on the dynasty radar even in the deepest formats.
Which Prospects Stood Out the Most:
Chicago’s Kade Snell had the jaw-dropping homer of the day in the sixth inning, a ball that jumped off the bat at 108.3 mph and traveled 449 feet. It was his lone hit, but the 2025 draftee has plenty of momentum heading into his first professional season.
https://x.com/TheWrigleyWire/status/2035549765161599084?s=20
Owen Ayers, Ariel Armas, and Carter Trice also had home runs for the Cubbies crew, putting their own exclamation point on the day.
This was our first look at Lan-Hong Su, and the Taiwanese right-hander was solid in his inning of work. He threw only 11 pitches, but recorded two strikeouts courtesy of a wicked four-seam fastball. He commanded that pitch very well on the edges of the zone and posted a 57% CSW rate with it. Su should hopefully make his affiliated debut this year, putting that 97 mph fastball to work in the Padres system.
https://x.com/TooMuchMortons_/status/2035555113834815638?s=20
https://www.mlb.com/video/condensed-game-padres-vs-cubs-spring-breakout?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share
