The BAPR is a free daily morning newsletter. Please consider help spreading the word by forwarding to your friends and helping us grow the Baseball America community!

Robert Hassell III, OF, Nationals: Hassell went 2-for-4 with a double on Monday to maintain his .400 batting average. Hassell is now hitting .400/.447/.600 and ranks third in the majors in batting average this spring. It’s unlikely that Hassell’s great spring will earn him a big league job, as his regular season production has yet to match his sensational springs. For instance, last year Hassell hit .357/.412/.786 in spring training in 2024, and then hit .241/.319/.328 between Double-A and Triple-A during the regular season. Hassell has just 69 Triple-A plate appearances, so his excellent spring gives him a nice jolt of confidence as he likely heads back to Rochester.

Drake Baldwin, C, Braves: With Sean Murphy sidelined by a cracked rib, Baldwin has a chance to show he’s capable of holding down the job until Murphy returns. Baldwin is doing quite a good job of reassuring the Braves. He’s been solid defensively and he just keeps hitting. Baldwin went 1-for-1 with a double on Monday, raising his stat line to .368/.520/.474.

Will Warren, RHP, Yankees: Warren could benefit from the unfortunate news that Gerrit Cole will need Tommy John surgery. On Monday, Warren tossed 3.2 innings as he continues to make a strong case for a spot in the Yankees’ rotation. Warren allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits along with a walk and a strikeout over 57 pitches. He topped out at 95 mph and mixed all five pitches, generating two whiffs against his sinker, two against his changeup and one against his curveball.

Jake Bloss, RHP, Blue Jays: The Blue Jays acquired the 23-year-old righthander in July when they traded Yusei Kikuchi to the Astros. Bloss what at his best in a March 10 spring training appearance in which he threw three scoreless innings with five strikeouts. Houston batters swung at 11 of of Bloss’ sliders and whiffed on nine of those swings. His slider averaged about 86 mph, while his four-seam fastball topped out at 96 with good ride. Bloss’ 12 total swinging strikes were the third most any pitcher generated in March 10 games. The Astros drafted Bloss in the third round in 2023 and called him up to Houston in 2024. He made three MLB appearances during the season but none for Toronto following the trade. Look for that to change in 2025.

Samuel Basallo, C, Orioles: Basallo went 1-for-3 and walloped a 403-foot home run to right field in 6-3 win against the Pirates. He struck out in his other two at-bats. The 20-year-old Basallo cuts an imposing figure in the box with his 6-foot-4 frame and is one of the better pure hitters the Orioles have signed and developed. This spring he is 5-for-17 with two homers, a triple and five strikeouts. Basallo reached Triple-A Norfolk late in 2024 and will likely begin this season there.

Juan Brito, 2B, Guardians: Brito is competing for the team’s everyday second base job this spring. It hasn’t been the strongest start thus far, but Brito has made his hits count. He collected his second hit of spring training on Monday, and like his first it was a home run. Brito hit a three-run shot off Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga that left the bat at 100.9 mph.

Editor’s Picks

Updated Dynasty 500: Geoff Pontes and Dylan White roll out new changes to our dynasty rankings now that baseball has returned. Read more…

Impact First-Rounders: Carlos Collazo examines what to expect from 2024 first-rounders like Travis Bazzana and Charlie Condon in 2025. Read more…

Baseball America Helium Pick Of The Day

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

Boston Bateman, LHP, Padres: The Padres love upside, and Bateman offers plenty. The massive lefthander has cleaned up his delivery in recent years and brings his fastball up to 96 mph from the left side. He backs the heater with a nasty, two-plane curveball that grades as a potential plus pitch. Bateman rounds out his mix with an average slider and a changeup and control that each earn fringe-average marks. He’s one of 10 prospects on Spring Breakout rosters later this week without any professional experience.

Quick Hits

News and notes from around spring training…

• Kyle Teel went 3-for-5 with a homer and a double yesterday

• Kyren Paris homered yesterday and his now hitting .333/.368/.611 through 10 games as he competes for a big league role

• Despite adding all three to the 40-man this winter, the A’s sent Denzel Clarke, Gunnar Hoglund and Ryan Cusick to minor league camp.

In Case You Missed It