Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.
Heck yeah, baseball is back! I got to see the Yankees set a record last weekend on one of the most bizarrely warm days in March I can remember. It was a pretty memorable game, but Pinstripe Alley contributor Jake Devin had a very eventful time as he took a Joey Ortiz foul ball to the cheek. He’s alright! But it highlights that MLB foul balls are no joke, even if you’re sitting what you may think of as pretty far from home plate. Stay safe out there, folks!
Don’t forget to watch every game with the Pitcher List community on Playback!
Today’s Headlines
Padres Bless Merrill With An Extension
Pen to paper. pic.twitter.com/EHfU9ciPxu
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 2, 2025
Get it? Because padres, like religious style? Listen it’s still spring training for me.
The Padres signed their star center fielder Jackson Merrill to a nine-year, $135 million extension on Wednesday morning. This deal buys out five of Merrill’s free agent years, and a sixth will be either a club or player option if he finishes in the top 5 MVP vote-getters at any point during the contract. Also, according to ESPN, he gets a suite on road trips. That’s cool.
Merrill had an absolutely incredible rookie campaign in 2024, putting up a .292/.326/.500 (130 wRC+) line with 24 home runs and 16 stolen bases. Oh yeah, he was also an 11 OAA center fielder even though it was his first time ever playing the position in pro ball and being promoted straight out of Double-A (he played 45 innings of LF in 2023, his only other outfield experience.) All of that added up to a 5.3 fWAR/4.4 bWAR rookie season that included a trip to the All-Star Game, a Silver Slugger, and would have surely seen him take home some hardware at the end of the year if it weren’t for a dude named Paul Skenes who you may have heard of.
Let's ride, San Diego 🤎 pic.twitter.com/G1pdCnDP3C
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 2, 2025
This also sets the Padres up for some serious projectability with their lineups:
Campbell Is Sticking ‘Round In Boston
And you gotta sing that header to the tune of the Dropkick Murphy’s most famous track.
Hot on the heels of their six-year, $170 million extension of Garrett Crochet, the Red Sox locked up their own rookie by inking Kristian Campbell to an eight-year, $60 million deal with two club options at the end. This buys out up to four years of his free agency, depending on if they’re exercised. Campbell is just starting out on his MLB career, but he’s off to a hot .375/.500/.688 (229 wRC+) start with one dinger to go with it. There was a lot of uncertainty around the futures of Campbell and fellow top Sox prospect Roman Anthony when it came to the 2025 roster, but that’s clearly no longer an issue for one of them. I guess this does mean that Rafael Devers is pretty locked in at DH at this point since a potential move of Alex Bregman to 2B is now blocked. In any case, Campbell’s scouting reports all tell of a dynamic player with speed and power, with a hit tool to maximize them both.
He’s looking forward to his future in Boston, as he said during his presser:
“We’re building something really good,” Campbell said. “We have a lot of great players. … Going in the right direction for sure.”
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 3, 2025
Six More Years Of The Marte Partay
It’s not just rookies getting some years added, though, as Arizona inked Ketel Marte to a six-year, $116.5 million extension that starts with the 2025 season and includes a player option in 2031. Marte has always been a personal favorite of mine, currently in his 10th year as a major leaguer, who has authored a .280/.348/.467 (118 wRC+) career line with 143 home runs and 61 stolen bases mostly as a second baseman (he’s played shortstop and outfield over that decade, although in smaller and smaller samples as his career has played out.) His age-30 season in 2024 was a career year in several ways and saw him finish third overall in the NL MVP race. Marte joins fellow middle infielder Geraldo Perdomo as position players who the Snakes are interested in keeping around, as their other long-term deals have mostly been for arms this year.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Red Light, Greene Light
The Rangers won their game in Cincinnati today by a score of 1-0, getting Jack Leiter his first MLB win (along with a respectable six strikeouts and only a single hit over five innings.) Our own Jack Zippo reached down deep and hucked a fastball at 99.1 mph which is pretty impressive, except in this specific matchup where it was… less so:
That’s right, Hunter Greene is back at it, absolutely torching the pitching velo leaderboards. Which of course, is nothing new for him:
And even though Greene and the Reds didn’t come away with the win, he did become the fastest Reds pitcher to reach 500 career strikeouts (this was only his 74th game!), taking the title from none other than Luis Castillo.
Herrerah Rah Rah!
Greene wasn’t the only NL Central player out there setting a new franchise record, as just down the road* in St. Louis, catcher Iván Herrera was launching a trio of towering dingers, becoming the first Cardinals catcher to do so in a single game:
The Herrera Hat Trick! pic.twitter.com/ZQReYggd2V
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) April 2, 2025
Herrera was responsible for batting in six of the Cards’ 12 runs en route to a win over the Angels. With Willson Contreras moving over to first base, one would have to think Herrera’s bat is buying him more plate appearances after starting the year in what appeared to be a timeshare with Pedro Pagés.
*350 miles of said road, to be exact.
On Wednesday, Aces Drink Free
It was a night for big names to put on a show on the bump across the league, starting in Florida as Paul Skenes took the mound against the Rays:
His final line for the day: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 earned), 6 Ks, and nary a walk to be found. Oh, and the W as the Pirates won 4-2.
Next up, we have Zack Wheeler out there against Rockie Road, who are extra hapless against the man:
Wheeling and dealing.
Zack Wheeler owns a 1.75 ERA with 36 strikeouts in his last 4 starts against the Rockies. pic.twitter.com/43rci1eRLK
— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2025
Garrett Crochet got in on the action as well, shutting down the potent Orioles offense in Baltimore:
Garrett Crochet brought the 🔥 tonight! pic.twitter.com/i5LZN5I8kT
— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2025
And finally, climbing to the top of the strikeout pile, Zac Gallen put on a clinic in New York, absolutely stifling the Yankees and their oddly shaped bats:
Zac Gallen ties his career high with 1️⃣3️⃣ strikeouts! pic.twitter.com/AeGEMVbXV9
— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2025
Gallen’s final line for the night was 6.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, and 13 Ks, which is historic!
After his very underwhelming season debut, I can only imagine he and his fantasy managers are breathing easier now that he’s back to his usual ways.
Fight For The… Something
We’re a week into the season and the AL Central is already doing serious AL Central things:
I don’t think it’s a particularly hot take to say that one of these teams will probably sink to the bottom soon.
Ohtani Walks Off His Bobblehead Night
Because c’mon, of course he did.
It's Shohei Ohtani Bobblehead Night at Dodger Stadium! pic.twitter.com/kzDphjEn4W
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 2, 2025
Atlanta got out to an early five-run lead by the second inning, but the Dodgers scratched two back in the bottom of the second, tacked on another in the fourth, and tied it in the eighth thanks to an absolutely booming double off the bat of Max Muncy (who decided to swap from a torpedo bat back to his standard model for this plate appearance! Drama!).
MAX TIES IT! pic.twitter.com/F1tRvSWxgs
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 3, 2025
But of course, as I’ve already spoiled for you, it was Shohei Ohtani who sent ’em home happy in LA with an absolutely insane shot to left center from what looks like a horrible end-of-the-bat off-balance swing:
SHO 'EM HOW TO WALK IT OFF! pic.twitter.com/DwG3MTUEIg
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 3, 2025
It’s the first week and I feel like I am already just throwing my hands up with regards to Ohtani descriptors.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ The Rangers pulled Jack Leiter from his start after five innings due to a blister. They are describing it as entirely precautionary.
⚾ Twins pitcher Randy Dobnak cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A. He will accept the assignment and will likely remain a shuttle option for the Twins.
⚾ Speedy outfielder Esteury Ruiz was traded to the Dodgers after being DFA’d by the Athletics. Los Angeles is going to option Ruiz to Triple-A.
⚾ Washington has Michael Soroka listed as their starter for Saturday, meaning his biceps injury doesn’t appear to be very serious.
⚾ Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds is dealing with triceps soreness in his throwing arm. He had five at-bats as the DH in Wednesday’s game, so the team clearly doesn’t think it’s negatively affecting him at the plate.
Articles You Should Read
MLB’s alternative cycles: Seven other baseball feats we can celebrate, from Speed Cycle to the Cycle of Icarus— Dayn Perry, CBS Sports
A Refusal To Mourn the Retirement, by Podcast, of a Pitcher in St. Louis – Mike Baumann, FanGraphs
Skubal and the Gang – Russell A. Carleton, Baseball Prospectus (Sub req’d)
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
Thank you for calling them the Sacramento Athletics. The team may be embarrassed by where they’re playing, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us have to pretend they’re not playing in West Sacramento.
I was inspired by Baseball Prospectus’ official editorial guideline on the team name, and will never give up an opportunity to remind people how terrible John Fisher is.