World Baseball Classic's biggest X-factors

Friday, February 27View In Browser TOP NEWS Need a bandwagon team for 2026? We got you  Last year's Ultimate Bandwagon Team was the Mariners. Not a bad choice! So which club is this year's pick to root for if you don't have a favorite team to cheer on to a championship? Scherzer's daughter made case to re-sign dad in heartfelt letter to Blue JaysTwo hits, two HRs for Jones … and one ends up leaving the ballparkKim impressing, but 2B position battle will proceed without himImai 'checked all the boxes' in first spring outing for AstrosMachado slugs two HRs -- including a slam -- as he gears up for ClassicInside the AL Central's early spring storylines a month from first pitchTrash talk aplenty at camp as Braves players prep for ClassicO's top pitching prospects are 'gross.' That's a good thingThat time MLB's No. 1 prospect got a shoutout from Randy Moss -- in ninth grade!McLean preps for Classic with electrifying spring debut MORE TOP NEWSPERSONALIZE STORIES  PLAY A SPORCLE BASEBALL QUIZ! MORE FREE GAMES AT MLB PLAY STAFF PICKS The biggest X-factors at this year's World Baseball ClassicWhen rosters were unveiled earlier this month, it was abundantly clear just how much talent will take the field in this year’s tournament. With this in mind, here’s a look at eight players who could shape the 2026 event. If ABS success is a skill, these guys have itLooking at ABS challenge data from the 2025 Triple-A season, let's look at some of the biggest standouts from the leaderboard. Comparing different 2026 top prospects listsHow does MLB Pipeline's preseason Top 100 Prospects list line up with other notable baseball outlets? We've done the math. Prospect doesn't hold back in U.S. history presentationAsked to give an American history lesson to his Red Sox teammates, Payton Tolle offered a rousing, funny, amped-up monologue -- with a special guest to cap it all off.  What came first, the pitchin' or the eggs?Mets pitching prospect Ryan Lambert started guzzling 30 raw eggs a day. He became fanatical about his health and at times judges his teammates for their bad habits. And yet? It's working, because he has never thrown harder. Spring Training tripleheader on MLB NetworkCatch the Marlins and Phillies in Grapefruit League play at 1 p.m. ET (available in Marlins market), followed by the Dodgers and Giants at 3 (available in Giants market), and capped with D-backs and Mariners at 8.  30 Clubs, 30 Camps on MLB NetworkMLB Network visits all 30 MLB camps in an eight-day stretch, with interviews, predictions, and analysis. Today’s stops include the Pirates and Cardinals at 6 p.m. ET and the Reds and Brewers at 7. Click here for the complete schedule.MORE STORIESSCOREBOARD  DET 5 BAL 6 NYM 5 HOU 0 HOU 4 STL 9 TB 5 BOS 7 MIN 4 PIT 6 WSH 3 PHI 7 ATL 3 NYY 7 MIA 8 TOR 7 SD 10 CIN 11 COL 11 SF 3 TEX 3 ATH 7 CWS 6 LAD 7 MIL 5 TEX 1 CHC 4 LAA 5 KC 10 AZ 13 CLE 7 SEA 8  © 2026 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. MLB trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball. Visit MLB.com. Any other marks used herein are trademarks of their respective owners. Please review our Privacy Policy. You (peterhovis@icloud.com) received this message because you registered to receive commercial email messages from MLB.com. Please add info@marketing.mlbemail.com to your address book to ensure our messages reach your inbox. If you no longer wish to receive commercial email messages from MLB.com, please unsubscribe  or log in and manage your email subscriptions. Postal Address: MLB.com, c/o MLB Advanced Media, L.P., 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.