After a long and busy offseason, in a matter of days, all 30 clubs will have their full Spring Training squads on hand and the official push to Opening Day will begin.
With all that in mind, it’s a good time to take stock of where everyone stands. To warm us up for the weeks ahead, here’s one key Spring Training storyline for all 30 clubs.
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
Guardians: How will the position-player mix shake out?
The Guardians will hold plenty of competition this spring in their position-player group. More than a dozen hitters have a reasonable pathway to securing a roster spot, at varying levels. There is a long list of up-and-comers who will get an extended look during camp, including Chase DeLauter, George Valera and C.J. Kayfus — all of whom made their MLB debut in 2025. The outfield, in particular, is unsettled — outside of Steven Kwan in left field.
Royals: What does the lineup look like around the core?
We know Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez and Maikel Garcia will hit somewhere between 1-4 or 2-5. Where Isaac Collins hits remains to be seen. The rest of the lineup will include some combination of second baseman Jonathan India, catcher/DH Carter Jensen and outfielders Kyle Isbel, Lane Thomas and Jac Caglianone. Nick Loftin, Tyler Tolbert, John Rave, Drew Waters and more are all competing for bench spots. How the Royals maximize their roster for better offense in 2026 will be a focus all spring.
Tigers: Does McGonigle make a push for Opening Day roster?
Assuming Tarik Skubal is not a Spring Training trade candidate and opens his contract year in Detroit, the biggest question in Tigertown becomes when Kevin McGonigle might join him. MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 overall prospect is a non-roster invite to big league camp and has yet to play above Double-A, but his combination of impact hitting, strong fundamentals and intense work ethic give him a chance to win over Tigers staff, especially if he shows he can handle shortstop. He could be a Rookie of the Year candidate.
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Breaking down #2 prospect Kevin McGonigle
Twins: Who pitches where?
The front of the rotation is set with Pablo López, Joe Ryan and presumably Bailey Ober. After that, somewhere between five and eight pitchers will be vying for spots – Simeon Woods Richardson, Taj Bradley, Zebby Matthews, David Festa, Mick Abel and perhaps prospects Kendry Rojas, Marco Raya and Andrew Morris. Some will start. Some will go to Triple-A. Some will pitch in relief. Sorting it all out is the biggest story of camp.
White Sox: The next wave of prospects
Outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Sam Antonacci and left-handed hurlers Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith don’t figure to break camp with the team, but they certainly will get serious looks during Spring Training. It’s important next-step development years for Schultz and Smith, as potential top-of-the-rotation hurlers while the switch-hitting Montgomery and Antonacci could force the issue sooner than later coming off strong ‘25 campaigns. All four should help the big league squad in 2026.
