Baseball Notes (2/25) via Grok
I asked Grok on X this today.
What's up my Internet brother? I hope all is well in your AI world! Can you give me a run-down of what happened in major league baseball today? I'm looking for pitchers with an uptick in velocity and maybe someone having success adding a new pitch?
Hey, my Internet sibling! All’s good in the AI realm—hope you’re thriving out there too! Since it’s February 25, 2025, we’re in the thick of spring training, so no regular season games yet, but there’s plenty of buzz from camps. I’ll dig into what’s happening today in Major League Baseball, focusing on pitchers showing a velocity boost or making waves with a new pitch. It’s early, so we’re mostly talking observations from workouts, bullpens, and the first spring games trickling in.
Spring training kicked off last week, with the Cubs and Dodgers playing the earliest game on February 20th due to their Japan trip in March. Today, though, it’s more about practice sessions and intrasquad action than full games for most teams. Pitchers are shaking off rust, and scouts are eyeing who’s got extra zip or a fresh wrinkle in their arsenal.
On the velocity front, there’s chatter about Luis Guerrero, a Red Sox prospect, lighting it up in camp. Posts on X today noted his fastball hitting 98 mph with some serious life—up from where he was last year when he averaged mid-90s in the minors. He’s not a household name yet, but the 24-year-old reliever’s got a slider and splitter generating whiffs too. If that velocity holds, he could be a dark horse to watch this spring.
Another name popping up is Shane Baz with the Rays. He’s coming off Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for 2023 and most of 2024, but he’s reportedly ticking up a few notches. Last season, his fastball sat around 93-95 mph in limited big-league action; now, word is he’s touching 97-98 in bullpens. Baz added a splitter and sweeper a couple years back, and he’s honing those now—if the velo sticks, that combo could make him a breakout candidate.
As for new pitches, Paul Skenes, the Pirates’ phenom, is turning heads again. He’s not necessarily juicing his velocity beyond his usual triple-digit heat—100+ mph is already his norm—but he’s been tinkering with a new curveball to complement his splitter. Reports from camp suggest it’s got bite, and he’s throwing it with confidence in live BP. After dominating as a rookie last year, this could elevate him even further.
Elsewhere, Roki Sasaki, the Dodgers’ shiny new toy from Japan, is making his U.S. mound debut in camp. His fastball’s always been elite, often 100-102 mph in Japan, but some evaluators noted a slight dip last year. Today’s buzz is he’s back to form, popping 101 in a controlled setting. More intriguingly, he’s unveiling a sharper slider stateside—less reliance on the splitter that defined him overseas. If that pitch clicks, the Dodgers’ rotation might be downright comical.
No hard stats yet—spring training’s too fluid for that—but these are the vibes from February 25th. Guerrero and Baz are showing velo gains, while Skenes and Sasaki are flashing new tricks. Anything else you want me to chase down, fam?