Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Twins: Batting seventh and playing left field, Rodriguez homered for a second straight day in Grapefruit League play. The Twins prospect went 1-for-2 with a 420-foot, fifth-inning solo shot to right field against Tigers lefthander Brant Hurter.

Rodriguez played 52 games at Triple-A St. Paul last season, missing most of the year to injury. He added 18 games in the Dominican League in the offseason, and as a 40-man roster player, would be a candidate to make his MLB debut this season.

Ryan Lambert, RHP, Mets: Lambert throws one of the best fastballs in the minor leagues, as measured by his combination of velocity and pitch attributes. The Mets reliever emphasized that point by striking out three of the four Blue Jays batters he faced in a Grapefruit League game on Feb. 23.

Lambert averaged 98 mph with 21 inches of induced vertical break and generated whiffs on two of six swings against the pitch. He fared better with his mid-80s slider, getting whiffs on three of four swings.

Lambert finished last season at Double-A Binghamton and struck out 64 in 42 innings at the level to go with a 1.71 ERA in 39 appearances. He could pitch his way into the MLB picture with another big year.

Connelly Early, LHP, Red Sox: After making his MLB debut last year and pitching postseason innings, Early is vying for a rotation spot in 2026. He got off to a good start in that quest on Monday, tossing a pair of shutout frames against the Rays. He walked one, struck out another and didn’t allow a hit.

Early, who turns 24 in April, pitched 19.1 innings for the Red Sox in the regular season last year, logging a 2.33 ERA with 29 strikeouts to just four walks. He then took the loss in Boston’s postseason elimination game against the Yankees, but didn’t look overwhelmed in the moment. Ranked No. 52 in the Top 100, Early has a fastball that tops out at 97 mph, and he’s worked to add strength this offseason to make good on a ceiling as a potential midrotation arm.

Jefferson Rojas, SS, Cubs: Rojas went 1-for-3 with a home run in a Feb. 23 Cactus League game. His fourth-inning blast traveled an estimated 413 feet and was hit off Royals reliever Luinder Avila.

The 20-year-old Rojas spent much of the second half last year at Double-A Knoxville but was challenged by older Southern League pitchers and hit just .164 in 39 games. At High-A South Bend in the first half, he compiled a career-best 145 wRC+ in 67 games.

Ben Hess, RHP, Yankees: Hess, the Yankees’ 2024 first-rounder, struck out five over three Grapefruit League innings against the Pirates on Feb. 23. He allowed one run on two hits and two walks.

Hess drew whiffs against all four of his pitches—low-90s four-seamer and sinker, low-80s changeup and mid-70s curveball—with his curve especially effective. Hess generated seven whiffs on 12 swings against the pitch.

Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pirates: It was a slog for Chandler on Monday, as the 23-year-old righty walked four and struck out two over 1.2 innings en route to allowing four runs against the Yankees. Still, the No. 15 overall prospect was upbeat after the performance.

“Unfortunately, it didn't end the way I wanted to, and I walked people," Chandler told reporters after the 35-pitch (14 strikes) outing. "Again, I was efficient in the way I wanted to be, not how you should be. But everything I was throwing today that I wanted to execute, I did.”

Jordan Lawlar, SS/OF, Diamondbacks: While Lawlar is no longer prospect-eligible, he is still just 23 years old and not yet established in the big leagues. He is looking to change that this season and is off to a good start in the Cactus League, getting one hit in his spring training debut—a home run—and three more in his second game, including another home run.

Lawlar played mostly shortstop and third base in 2023 and 2025 during MLB stretches, but so far this spring he has played only center field. The D-backs will be without left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. early this season and may see right fielder Corbin Carroll get a late start following hamate surgery, so Lawlar has a prime opportunity.

Editor’s Picks

Scouting Every AL East No. 1 Prospect For 2026: Baseball America’s Prospect Profiles video series is back for the new season, complete with breakdowns of No. 1 prospects for every team in the game. We begin with the AL East. Read more…

Arizona Backfield Intel On Leo De Vries, Gabriel Davalillo & More: BA’s Jesús Cano checks in from the desert with firsthand reports on key prospects on Arizona backfields. Read more…

Baseball America Helium Pick Of The Day

Each day, we’ll pick a prospect that has our attention.

Ryan Sloan, RHP, Mariners: The Mariners made a significant investment in Sloan when they signed him to an overslot $3 million bonus as a second-rounder in 2024. A year and a half later, the talented 20-year-old righty continues to make that look like a worthy investment.

A day after Kade Anderson impressed by holding his own against established Mariners veterans, it was Sloan’s turn to do the same. BA’s No. 60 prospect has now thrown two live BP sessions in camp and would appear ready to pitch in official Cactus League games.

Sloan made his pro debut in 2025 and was rock solid, posting a 3.73 ERA with 90 strikeouts to just 15 walks over 82 innings with Low-A Modesto. He made three starts with High-A Everett before eye surgery ended his season. Back healthy for spring training, he’ll likely return to High-A in 2026 and should reach Double-A sooner or later. His stuff and poise give him a chance for front-of-the-rotation upside as part of the Mariners’ vaunted pitching development program.

Quick Hits

Prospect news and notes from around baseball…

• Alex Freeland, the Dodgers’ No. 7 prospect, reached base three times on Monday, logging a double and driving in a pair of runs. He hit .190/.292/.310 in a 29-game stint with LA last season.

• New Brewers shortstop Jett Williams started things off with a bang against the Padres yesterday, blasting a two-run triple that one-hopped the left-center field fence.

• Speaking of Brewers shortstops, Jesús Made is still looking for his first spring training hit after being invited to Milwaukee’s camp. The No. 4 prospect in all of baseball did reach on a walk and swipe a bag Monday, though.

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