Morning Baseball Briefing – February 21
By Morgan Davis · Sat Feb 21 2026
Your daily roundup of the biggest stories from around baseball: Twins ace Pablo López to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery — Minnesota's rotation takes a major hit as their 2025 All-Star faces the knife; expected timeline puts return in 2027. (Source) Orioles' Jordan Westburg sidelined until at least May with partial UCL tear — Baltimore's projected starting third baseman suffers second injury of spring, compounding earlier oblique issue; no surgery planned yet. (Source) Pete Alonso crushes first homer in Orioles spring debut — The Polar Bear wastes no time in Sarasota, launching a moon shot in his Grapefruit League opener; chemistry with new teammates already clicking. (Source) Gerrit Cole hits 96.9 mph in first live BP since Tommy John — Yankees ace faces hitters for first time post-surgery, showcasing new over-the-head windup; velocity encouraging ahead of return timeline. (Source) Munetaka Murakami nearly late, then dominates in White Sox debut — Japan's biggest import this offseason gets stuck in traffic jam, arrives just in time, collects 2 hits and 2 RBIs in first Cactus League action. (Source) ABS Challenge System debuts in spring training with mixed early reviews — MLB's new automated ball-strike technology sees first game action; players and coaches adjusting to strategic implications of limited challenges. (Source) NCAA introduces Trackman-based umpire accountability system — College baseball embraces tech for umpire evaluation and improvement; marks significant shift in officiating standards at amateur level. (Source)