Alan Roden roped baseballs with regularity this spring, serving to himself to land not solely a roster spot, but additionally an Opening Day begin in proper discipline for the Toronto Blue Jays. Exhibiting indicators that he’s able to take off on the MLB stage, the 25-year-old left-handed hitter punished Grapefruit League hurlers to the tune of a 1.245 OPS and a 220 wRC+. He additionally coaxed six free passes and fanned simply 4 occasions over his 37 plate appearances.
Greater than spring coaching outcomes factored into his first big-league alternative. Constructing on a robust 2024 season, cut up between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo, Roden has been including pop to his profile. Beforehand identified extra for his bat-to-ball expertise than for his skill to clear fences, the erstwhile Creighton College Bluejay is now seeking to carry.
Having learn of Roden’s efforts to generate extra energy, I requested him how he’s gone about impacting the ball with extra authority.
“I believe it’s much less of the particular affect that’s higher,” Roden advised me at Blue Jays camp. “It’s extra the form of the ball off the bat, directionally. The exit velocities are excessive sufficient to the place if I’m getting within the air to the pull facet, it’s going to go. That’s the place the harm comes from, hitting the ball with extra ultimate launch angles.”
Roden has a B.A. in physics, so understanding the aerodynamics of ball flight, and the swing paths that produce outcomes, comes with the territory. Explaining his mechanical changes was a easy train for the Middleton, Wisconsin native.
“My [exit velocities] have gone up barely, simply from transferring extra effectively,” Roden mentioned. “The stance is about pre-setting the slot so that when I get to launch place I can simply flip — it’s how I’m posturing, and directionally transferring by the swing to match the airplane of the pitch. There is a bit more area behind me now, and the flip begins a little bit bit earlier. It’s been a course of to get thus far, however I actually like the place I’m at proper now.”
Roden went 1-for-2 with a stroll in his Opening Day debut with the Blue Jays.
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Felipe Alou went 14 for 22 towards Tracy Stallard.
Matt Chapman is 7 for 10 towards Brady Singer.
Sam Chapman went 8 for 16 towards Stubby Overmire.
Ben Chapman went 9 for 17 towards Chubby Dean.
Ray Chapman went 10 for 18 towards Jing Johnson.
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Elly De La Cruz is essentially the most thrilling participant in Cincinnati. About to start his second full big-league season, the 23-year-old shortstop is coming off a 12 months the place he stroked 36 doubles, 10 triples, and 25 dwelling runs. Furthermore, he swiped 67 bases and was value 6.4 WAR. His mixture of energy and velocity makes him much-watch not just for Reds followers, however for followers throughout the nation.
Ben Shulman bought an up-close look when De La Cruz was taking part in for the Midwest League’s Dayton Dragons in 2022. Not surprisingly, the tooled-up prospect made an impression on the then-Fort Wayne TinCaps, and now Toronto Blue Jays, broadcaster.
“It was the primary sport of the minor league season, and my first affiliated sport popping out of school,” recalled Shulman. “You’ve seen Elly De La Cruz’s body; he clearly stands out. Simply gargantuan. You see him at shortstop and may’t think about a man that huge being over there… though I used to be working within the Padres system on the time, so there have been some Fernando Tatis Jr. comparisons.
“In his first at-bat, he smacked an extra-base hit,” continued Shulman. “I imagine he hit it the other method, batting right-handed, and was off to the races. I’d must verify the field rating, however I’m fairly certain it was a triple… or possibly it was a double and he stole third proper after. He was essentially the most electrical baserunner I noticed. He created havoc. He additionally bought to balls within the discipline and made throws that different guys couldn’t. The ball flew off his bat. He was fairly sensational.”
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When Chaim Bloom was employed as Boston’s Chief Baseball Officer following the 2019 season, his directives included restocking the farm system and reducing the crew’s payroll. 4 years later — sure, there some errors alongside the best way — he was unceremoniously fired after succeeding on each fronts.
Notable amongst Bloom’s selections was permitting Xander Bogaerts to depart by way of an 11-year, $280M free-agent contract that he signed with the Padres. Over his first two seasons in San Diego, the 32-year-old shortstop logged a 109 wRC+ and 6.6 WAR (4.6 of it in 2023). Bogaerts is an effective participant, however with 9 years and a wholesome chunk of change remaining on the deal… let’s simply say that Bloom isn’t the chump many Pink Sox followers deemed him to be when “Bogie” departed.
The Mookie Betts fiasco is one other story — a foul commerce is a foul commerce — though it does bear noting that the 12-year extension Betts signed with the Dodgers was for a whopping $365M. Might John Henry and Co. have afforded that? Certain, however that’s on them. Bloom might have been responsible of getting pennies on the greenback by way of the return, however he wasn’t the one controlling the purse strings.
The 4 beginner drafts that Bloom oversaw in Boston? The yield included Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer, Kyle Teel, and Nick Yorke. The Pink Sox additionally acquired under-the-radar prospect Wilyer Abreu in alternate for 2 months of free-agent-to-be Christian Vázquez, and procured Garrett Whitlock by way of the Rule 5 draft.
Bloom — now in St. Louis and slated to grow to be the Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations at season’s finish — deserves a ton of credit score for the place the Pink Sox are at the moment: a professional World Sequence contender that simply so occurs to boast one in every of baseball’s finest farm programs.
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A quiz:
Who holds the San Francisco Giants franchise document for many saves? (A touch: he recorded greater than 100 saves with one other crew and was a three-time All-Star.)
The reply will be discovered beneath.
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NEWS NOTES
MLB introduced on Friday that Opening Day rosters included a complete of 265 gamers (27.8% of all gamers) representing 18 completely different nations and territories exterior of the 50 United States. The Dominican Republic had essentially the most foreign-born gamers (100), adopted by Venezuela (63), Cuba (26), Puerto Rico (16), Canada (13), Japan (12), and Mexico (11).
Tommie Reynolds, an outfielder who performed for 4 groups throughout the 1963-1972 season, died on March 19 at age 83. Two of his dozen dwelling runs — together with his first — got here towards Mickey Lolich. Reynolds additionally took Luis Tiant and Jim Bouton deep. He performed roughly half of his video games with the Kansas Metropolis Athletics.
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The reply to the quiz is Robb Nen, who had 206 saves with the Giants and 108 with the Florida Marlins. If you happen to guessed Rod Beck, he had 199 saves with the Giants and 87 with different groups, together with 58 with the Chicago Cubs. Nen and Beck had been each three-time All-Stars.
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When he was featured right here at FanGraphs final summer season, I referred to Seattle right-hander Bryan Woo as “a low-slot success story.” The piece included Woo’s explaining how his supply got here to be, however not when he realized why it helps his stuff play up. I requested him about that at Mariners camp this spring.
“I suppose it might be after I bought drafted,” recalled Woo, whom Seattle chosen 174th total in 2021 out of Cal Poly. “They convey you in and undergo your entire arsenal. They walked me by it, placing numbers on all the things, like vertical trip, launch top, and all of the stuff that performs into it. Earlier than I bought drafted, I didn’t perceive analytics an entire lot. It was a studying course of for me.”
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Jameson Taillon has advanced as he’s gotten older. At age 33, the Chicago Cubs right-hander assaults hitters otherwise than he as soon as did. I requested him about that, together with how his uncooked stuff compares to what it was in his youthful years.
“That’s attention-grabbing,” replied Taillon, who reached the large leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2016. “Once I was a rookie, I threw two pitches — I used to be sinker/curveball — they usually had been in all probability each plus pitches. Now I throw six pitches. I don’t throw as arduous as I did again then, however I’ve method higher command. When it comes to out-getting skill, I believe I’m method forward of the place I used to be.”
I had the Computerized Ball Strike system in thoughts after I posed my query. After mentioning final Sunday’s column to him — it led with three views on that very matter — I requested Taillon how a fully-implemented ABS may affect pitching as an entire.
“You’ve to have the ability to get swings-and-misses within the zone,” mentioned Taillon. “I believe that’s necessary, it doesn’t matter what. I confronted some minor-league guys this spring. Whenever you used to throw on again fields — the chainlink-fence league — all they’d do is hack. Now they’re developing [through the minors] with ABS and are a little bit extra conscious of the strike zone. To get swings-and-misses you’ve got to have the ability to tunnel your pitches and be a little bit extra misleading within the strike zone.”
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FORTHCOMING MILESTONES
The Boston Pink Sox entered the season with 9,955 wins, needing 45 extra to succeed in 10,000.
The Minnesota Twins entered the season with 9,955 losses, needing 45 extra to succeed in 10,000.
Clayton Kershaw wants 32 strikeouts to succeed in 3,000.
Manny Machado got here into the season needing 100 hits to succeed in 2,000, and 9 runs scored to succeed in 1,000.
Bryce Harper got here in needing 24 RBIs to succeed in 1,000.
Kyle Schwarber got here in needing 16 dwelling runs to succeed in 300.
Trea Turner got here in needing 21 stolen bases to succeed in 300.
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
On Opening Day in NPB, 23-year-old Orix Buffaloes southpaw Hiroya Miyagi had an ideal sport by seven innings towards the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles earlier than permitting an infield single to start the eighth. Miyagi, who logged a 1.91 ERA with the Buffaloes final season, bought a no-decision in Orix’s 3-2 walk-off win.
Additionally on Opening Day, the Yomiuri Giants rallied from a five-run deficit to prime the Tokyo Yakult Swallows 6-5 in 10 innings. Trey Cabbage went 3-for-4 with a house run in his NPB debut, whereas Gakuto Wakabayashi went 4-for-6. Raidel Maríínez, who recorded 43 saves final 12 months with the Chunichi Dragons, was credited with the win.
Takahiro Matsuba out-pitched Trevor Bauer on Saturday because the Chunichi Dragons beat the Yokohama DeNA BayStars 1-0. Matsuba allowed two hits over seven shutout innings; Bauer allowed six hits and the sport’s lone run over six innings.
Within the KBO, Austin Dean and Bo-gyeong Moon went deep on Saturday because the LG Twins routed the NC Dinos 14-4. A 24-year-old third baseman, Bo-gyeong has gone 8-for-21 with three dwelling runs over the primary week of the season.
Tae Hyun Jeon has kicked off his KBO profession by going 8-for-14 with the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes. The left-handed-hitting infielder turned 19 earlier this month.
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Kia Tigers third baseman Do Yeong Kim suffered a gentle hamstring pressure within the membership’s opener final weekend, placing him on the shelf for a yet-to-be-determined period of time. Hopefully the keep shall be brief in period. Do Yeong is the reigning KBO MVP, having put up a 38-home run, 40-stolen base season whereas slashing .347/.420/.647 for the 2024 Korea Sequence champions. Making his efficiency much more spectacular is the truth that he didn’t have a good time his twenty first birthday till this previous October.
“He’s the very best participant within the KBO,” San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee advised me previous to the shut of spring coaching. “He destroyed the league final season. And the loopy factor about him is that he’s younger. He’s very younger. Do Yeong is a five-tool participant, and he is aware of tips on how to work on each standards of baseball.”
Jung Hoo got here stateside in December 2023 after starring for the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes for seven seasons. I requested the now-26-year-old if he thinks Do Yeong wish to comply with in his footsteps and convey his expertise to MLB.
“For certain,” replied Jung Hoo, who slashed .336/.386/.456 with six dwelling runs and 13 steals in his personal age-20 season. “It’s in all probability going to be an enormous dream for him to come back to the most important leagues. It’s a dream for any baseball participant. However he’s bought 4 extra years earlier than he can come over. Having come over from the KBO myself, I do know that it’s necessary to deal with [the present].”
How do followers of their homeland view Do Yeong?
“I haven’t performed there since 2023, so I can’t see simply how well-known Do Yeong is,” responded Jung Hoo. “However he performs for the preferred crew within the KBO, and he’s their hottest participant. That makes him a famous person there.”
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Luis Arraez is a .323/.372/.416 profession hitter, and he’s led his league in batting common in every of the final three years. In 2023, he batted .354. What’s going to his common be this season? Earlier this week, I ran a ballot on social media with 4 vary choices. Listed below are the outcomes:
.340 or greater: 7.5%.330 to .339: 9.4%.320 to .329: 37.7%.319 or decrease: 45.3%
I’m extra bullish on the soon-to-turn-28-years-old San Diego Padres infielder than the overwhelming majority of the voters. I count on Arraez to complete the season someplace within the neighborhood of .340 — and seize a fourth straight batting title.
Which brings us to an age-specific comp. Listed below are Arraez and Rod Carew of their age 25-27 seasons:
Carew: 550 hits, 695 TB, 150 BB, 196 SO, .325 BA, .379 OBP, 124 wRC+.Arraez: 576 hits, 747 TB, 109 BB, 106 SO,..328 BA, .371 OBP, 123 wRC+.
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A random obscure former participant snapshot:
Whammy Douglas had a modest profession, showing in 11 video games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1957 and logging a 3-3 document and a 3.26 ERA over 47 innings. The suitable-hander from Carrboro, North Carolina confronted plenty of notable names. The 4 hitters who took him deep had been Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks (twice), Eddie Mathews, and Rip Repulski, whereas the primary batter he fanned was Vinegar Bend Mizell. Bobby Thomson, who hit The Shot Heard ‘Around the World went 0-for-6 with three strikeouts. Wally Moon was the primary batter to drive in a run whereas he was toeing the rubber.
Douglas had noteworthy seasons down on the farm. In 1954, he went 27-6 with a 2.06 ERA for the Brunswick Pirates, and in 1958 he went 16-10 with a 3.35 ERA for the Columbus Jets. His time within the minors additionally included taking part in for the Havana Sugar Kings in 1959.
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
SI.com’s Jack Sommers wrote about how Corbin Carroll — the D-Again union rep at age 24 — is embracing a management position in Arizona.
Jung Ho Kang is hoping to return to MLB at age 37. Yonhap Information Company’s Jee-ho Yoo has the story.
At Cincinnati Journal, Chad Dotson wrote about how hope is undefeated in March for Reds followers.
Eschewing uniqueness, Detroit’s Comerica Park will not have a dust cutout between dwelling plate and the pitcher’s mound. Brady Farkas shared the disappointing information at SI.com.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
On Thursday, Spencer Torkelson grew to become the seventh participant in Detroit Tigers historical past to stroll 4 occasions and homer in the identical sport. Roy Cullenbine, Rob Deer, Cecil Fielder, Travis Fryman, J.D. Martinez, and Jason Thompson are the opposite six.
Bryce Harper has slashed .335/.414/.634 with 17 dwelling runs in 295 plate appearances versus the Colorado Rockies.
Bob Feller threw MLB’s solely Opening-Day no-hitter, turning the trick on April 16, 1940 towards the Chicago White Sox. The Cleveland Indians Corridor of Famer had three no-hitters in his profession, in addition to 12 one-hitters. Feller’s prime strikeout sport got here in 1938 when fanned 18 Detroit Tigers batters over 9 innings.
Corridor of Fame second baseman Bobby Doerr had 2,042 hits and a .288 batting common. Mark Grudzielanek had 2,040 hits and a .289 batting common.
In 1951, New York Giants second baseman Eddie Stanky had 127 hits, 127 walks, and a .401 on-base proportion. In 1946, he had 143 hits, 148 walks, and a .417 on-base proportion with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Stanky’s OBP over 11 MLB seasons was .410.
On at the moment’s date in 2018, the Pittsburgh Pirates spoiled Opening Day in Detroit by scoring thrice within the prime of the thirteenth inning to beat the Tigers 13-10. Gregory Polanco’s dwelling run with two aboard was the deciding blow.
The San Diego Padres acquired Graig Nettles from the New York Yankees in alternate for Dennis Rasmussen on at the moment’s date in 1984. Taking part in in his 18th big-league season, Nettles hit 20 of his 390 profession dwelling runs and helped lead the Padres to the World Sequence within the first of his three years in San Diego. He’d performed in 4 Fall Classics whereas carrying pinstripes.
Gamers born on at the moment’s date embrace Conrad Cardinal, a Brooklyn-born right-hander whose MLB profession comprised six video games for the Houston Colt .45s in 1963. Certainly one of his appearances got here towards St. Louis, with the Cardinals successful 15-0 behind a complete-game effort by Ernie Broglio (who a 12 months later was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Lou Brock). Cardinal’s given identify was Conrad Seth.
Additionally born on at the moment’s date was Dave Baldwin, a right-hander who made the majority his 176 appearances with the Washington Senators throughout a profession that spanned the 1966-1973 seasons. Baldwin went on to earn a PhD in genetics and writer the guide “Limbic Hurly-Burly: Poems of Humor and Paradox.” His memoir is titled “Snake Jazz.”
Bert Blue batted .347 taking part in for the Ohio State League’s Newark Nukes/Piqua Picks in 1911. Ten years earlier, he’d begun his skilled profession with the Western League’s Dayton Previous Troopers. In between, Blue noticed his solely MLB motion, taking part in for each the St. Louis Browns and Philadelphia Athletics in 1908. His given identify was Fowl Wayne.
