Cole Ragans is back, baby! The All-Star left-handed pitcher is healthy and ready to compete, according to Jaylon Thompson. Ragans missed a significant portion of the 2025 season, but he's now ready to take on the challenge. Anne Rogers highlights Ragans' focus on improving his slider, a pitch that performed well against both lefties and righties. In 2024, Ragans' slider was inconsistent, but he made adjustments to the grip, resulting in better movement and swing-and-miss outcomes. However, Ragans aims to refine it further, as he couldn't throw an 0-0 slider last year, which impacted his performance.
Speaking of impressive displays, Jac Caglianone hit a baseball at an astonishing 120.2 mph during spring training! This feat is rare, having occurred just 27 times in the regular season since 2008. Caglianone's power is a key reason the Royals plan to include him in the lineup daily. Additionally, the team's rotation is shaping up with Bergert, Cameron, Avila, Black, and Falter all vying for a spot. The Royals' prospects also include Carter Jensen, the only Royals prospect named on a composite of top 100 prospect rankings.
Beyond the Royals, there's a fascinating story about the revival of Hinchliffe Stadium, a Negro League ballpark. Paul Skenes, a former player, caught a no-hitter thrown by Pete Crow-Armstrong and Masyn Winn during their youth. In other news, former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini was sentenced to life in prison for murder, and longtime umpire Bruce Froemming passed away at 86. The article also touches on the ongoing legal battles regarding college athletes' eligibility and contracts. And don't forget to check out Spoon's 'Wild' for your song of the day!
