Spring Scouting: Opening Weekend
Baseball is back!
This article was originally published on TJStats.ca
With Spring Training kicking off, the 2026 MLB season is underway, and I am could not be more ecstatic. I plan to cover all things spring, and this article will kick off a hopefully regular piece to keep you up to date with the most important observations.
Here is what you need to know from the first weekend of Spring Training.
Carlos Lagrange Is Electric
The Yankees Top Pitching Prospect (in my opinion) is Carlos Lagrange. He ranked as my #70 Prospect entering the 2026 season, and his Spring Training debut fully supported that placement. His stuff was absolutely electric as he sat triple digits on his fastball and topped out at 102.4 MPH -- nearly 2 MPH harder than the next pitcher on the day. Not only was his fastball buzzing, he flexed a pair of breaking balls and a changeup which all graded out exceptionally well. There were some bumps in the road for the flamethrowing righty as he allowed 3 hits and issues 2 walks on the day. I would not read much into the results -- it is Spring Training after all -- but command is the biggest question mark regarding his profile. Nonetheless, this outing was the start of what should be a very fun spring for Lagrange.
Payton Tolle’s New Sinker
Payton Tolle (#15 Prospect) kicked off his spring his a brand new pitch -- a sinker. This addition is a great development for the sturdy southpaw as concerns regarding his reliance on his elite fastball have impacted his outlook as a starter. On a very positive note, the sinker looked sharp sitting at 95-96 MPH with stark arm-side action. Moving forward, I expect the offering to be his primary fastball against LHH. This was a great first step for Tolle this spring with the next being further development of his breaking balls.
Carter Baumler, The Closer?
Carter Baumler was the Rangers lone Rule 5 selection in this year’s draft, and it looks to be gem of a pick. The 6’2” righty fired off a perfect inning in his spring debut and flashed the fastball-slider combo that landed him in Texas. His shallow fastball sat 95-96 MPH with 19” from a 5.7’ vRel while his curveball lived in the mid 80s with steep two-plane action. The fastball in particular is the pitch to watch as it was the offering that defined his pro career thus far. If he can continue to paint it at the top of the zone and then drop curveballs under bats he could end up being an effective closer very soon.
Bishop Letson is a Top 100 Prospect!
I will admit, I was not sold on Bishop Letson. The pitch shapes in 2025 were intriguing, but the velocity made me bearing on the slender righty. Those concerns quickly washed away as his fastball looked so much better than I anticipated. It averaged 96.6 MPH with an incredibly flat -3.8° VAA from his low 3/4 slot -- traits that push it into plus-plus territory. We also got a decent look at his big sweeping slider which was pivotal to his breakout 2025 season. He will be immediate addition to my next Top 100 Prospect update, and I expect many other outlets to follow suit -- this is a big name to watch.
Tanner McDougal, Top 100 Prospect?
Tanner McDougal was one of my final cuts on my Top 100 Prospect list. I didn’t want to leave McDougal in the dust though, so I highlighted him in my “Who I Expect to Crack the 2027 Top 100“ article which accompanied my rankings. After just one Spring Training outing I fear that I made a mistake. McDougal looked electric as his fastball averaged just under 100 MPH and his breaking balls were crisp. My main concern regarding McDougal is the shape of his fastball -- it exhibited below average ride for his slot. This places it decidedly in the dead-zone, which leaves it vulnerable if his velocity cannot hold up. Nonetheless, it was a very exciting debut for the young righty and he could find himself in the majors early in 2026.
Exciting Orioles Arms
The Orioles pitching pipeline is one of the most underrated groups of prospects in MLB. Headed by spin-master Trey Gibson, a bunch of Baltimore arms have come out firing to start Spring Training. Gibson showcased his elite extension and a very impressive set of breaking balls in his 3 shutout innings of work. He is a name to watch as he could be a fixture in the rotation later this season with the development of his fastballs being the main focus. A trio of pitchers that could find themselves in Baltimore’s bullpen in 2026 also looked great. Chayce McDermott, Levi Wells, and Cameron Foster each exhibited strong fastballs and a complementary secondary en route to scoreless outings.
