March 1, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates’ shortstop Konno Griffin (75) hits a two-run home run and gets on base in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Connor Griffin, the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball according to MLB Pipeline, homered again Sunday, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in their spring training host in Jupiter, Florida.
Griffin, who turns 20 on April 24, is making a strong case to be the Pirates’ Opening Day shortstop. His two-run home run in the first inning was his third in 14 at-bats in six games this spring, and he accounted for all three of his hits.
Jhostynxon Garcia also homered for Pittsburgh to take a 4-0 lead in the second inning. Pirates pitcher Hunter Barco, who is also ranked in the top 100 overall prospects, started and pitched 3 innings with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts and no hits.
Yohel Pozo scored the only run on a double play and had the lone hit for the Cardinals, who had just two at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Tigers 4, Blue Jays 4
Visiting Toronto ultimately held two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal to a draw in Lakeland, Florida.
Skubal, who had a successful spring debut, allowed four hits and two runs in three innings and was tagged. Detroit had nine hits from nine batters, with Riley Green hitting an RBI double as the only extra-base hit.
Jonatan Clase had a game-high three hits for the Blue Jays, including a two-run double in the third inning by Skubal. Grant Rogers delivered three perfect innings on the hill in Toronto.
Mets 4, Astros 3
Tyrone Taylor and Chris Suero homered and Cristian Pache homered to beat Houston in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
The Mets had just six hits, but three of them were extra-base hits in a lineup dominated primarily by prospects. Clay Holmes struck out four or more frames of one-run work in his second spring start.
Jose Altuve and Joey Loperfido had hits for the Astros, who each scored on a sacrifice fly, walk and wild pitch, and Yonatan Henriquez lifted New York with a walk-off hit.
Yankees 5, Phillies 3
Duke Ellis went 3-of-4 and Yanquiel Fernandez added 2 points to break a 1-1 deadlock and pave the way for New York’s win over host Philadelphia in Clearwater, Florida.
Warren would set the tone for the Yankees on the mound, allowing one hit and striking out three over 3-2/3 innings. He allowed one run (1.42 earned run average) in 6 1/3 innings over two starts last year to continue his first major league season.
Bryson Stott hit his second home run of the spring for the Phillies, but the top three players in the lineup (Trea Turner, JT Realmuto and Alec Bohm) went 0-for-9 with 3 Ks. Zach Pop took the loss, allowing four runs in two-thirds of an inning of relief work.
Braves (ss) 5, Rays 3
Back-to-back inning home runs by Austin Riley and Ben Gamel proved to be the difference as Atlanta’s split squad visited Tampa Bay in Northport, Florida.
Gamel, a journeyman looking for a roster spot with the Braves, has hit three home runs in 11 at-bats this spring, while Riley has two. Michael Harris II added a two-run hit for Atlanta, which followed a three-run, one-hit shutout from Reynaldo Lopez.
Yandy Diaz and Jacob Melton each hit their second home runs of the spring for the Rays, and the Rays got Drew Rasmussen to pitch a perfect third inning. He allowed just one hit in five innings to start the spring.
Braves(ss) 2, Twins 2
Brewer Hicklin and John Gil homered for an Atlanta road squad loaded with prospects in a win over Minnesota in Fort Myers, Florida.
The Twins got a great start from Mick Abel (six strikeouts, no runs and one hit in three innings) after acquiring him from Philadelphia in the Jhoan Duran trade at last year’s trade deadline. Minnesota scored in the sixth on sac flies by Kody Clemens and James Outman.
Atlanta starter Grant Holmes allowed one run and struck out two over 2 2/3 innings.
Orioles 8, Red Sox 7
Heston Kjerstad had three hits and top prospect Samuel Basallo had a two-run double to lead Baltimore to a narrow victory over host Boston in Fort Myers, Florida.
Enrique Bradfield Jr., the No. 4 prospect, had a hit, a walk and two runs for the Orioles, while offseason acquisition Chris Bassitt gave up two runs in two innings in his spring debut.
Key Red Sox acquisition Wilson Contreras hit a three-run shot, his second home run of the spring, as part of a two-hit, two-run effort in the designated hitter role. Allen Castro added a two-run hit for Boston, which blew an early 6-1 lead.
Marlins 3, Nationals 0
Miami recorded a shutout victory against Washington in West Palm Beach, Florida, with three extra-base hits.
Christopher Morel had an RBI triple, Daniel Johnson had an RBI double and Heriberto Hernandez hit his first home run of the spring for the Marlins. Offseason signee Chris Paddack sparked a stellar combined pitching performance, striking out three in two innings.
Washington had only four hits all year and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Brad Rhodes, who made his major league debut last season, allowed five hits and two runs in 2 1/3 innings.
–Field level media
