The Daily Briefing — Monday, March 23
By Morgan Davis · Mon Mar 23 2026
The Lead Story When Shotaro Morii stepped into the box at Hohokam Stadium on Sunday, there was real anticipation. The 19-year-old Japanese two-way signee had landed stateside last January on a $1.51 million deal, the richest ever paid to a Japanese amateur outside of Nippon Professional Baseball. He spent his debut pro season in the Arizona Complex League, and yesterday marked his first showcase appearance in front of the American baseball establishment. He delivered. Going 2-for-2 in the Athletics' 9-8 Spring Breakout victory over the Brewers, Morii looked every bit the prospect who commanded such attention. He started with an infield single in the second inning, then in the third, he roped a 106.6 mph triple down the right-field line. That exit velocity, that line-drive trajectory, that speed on the basepaths—it all pointed to a kid who has adjusted to American pitching and athletic competition far better than might be expected in year one of his North American experience. Morii, who has already committed to speaking English-only in media availability and reportedly uses ChatGPT daily to improve his language skills, faced Top 100 prospect Jamie Arnold and showed no intimidation. The Athletics plan to move him to Single-A Stockton this season where he'll get regular shortstop reps three days a week, pitch once weekly, and serve as DH before his pitching days. This Spring Breakout performance suggests they may have a legitimate two-way player on their hands, not just organizational intrigue. Quick Hits Ethan Salas Delivers on International Investment: The Padres' top international prospect Ethan Salas turned in a virtuoso performance against the Cubs in Saturday's Spring Breakout, launching a three-run homer, finishing with four RBIs, stealing a base, and throwing out two attempted base stealers. The 19-year-old catcher, signed for $5.6 million as the consensus top prospect in the 2023 international class, has been quiet the last couple of years due to a back injury, but this performance screamed that he's back and ready. Even in a 7-5 Padres loss, Salas was the story. Brewers Unleash Statcast Carnage: In the Athletics-Brewers matchup, Milwaukee's prospects didn't just put balls in play—they put them into the stratosphere. Eric Bitonti 's solo homer registered at 115.4 mph, the hardest-hit ball by any Brewer during 2026 Spring Training and the second-highest exit velocity for a Milwaukee homer in the Statcast era dating to 2015. Andrew Fischer added a 111.3 mph RBI double in the eighth inning. Jesús Made opened the game with a 112.7 mph double 400 feet into left-center on the first pitch of the day. Three different Brewers hitters produced exit velocities in excess of 111 mph; the last time the big league club produced that feat in the same game was May 8, 2019, when all three came from Christian Yelich . Nick Senzel Heads to the Minors Despite Hot Spring: The Dodgers optioned veteran infielder Nick Senzel to Triple-A after a strong spring that saw him hit .270/.440/.622 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. Senzel signed a minor league deal last year and showcased enough power and patience this spring to suggest he could be organizational depth at third base if injuries strike. For now, he'll work on fine-tuning before getting a big league opportunity. Final Dodgers Cuts Clear the Roster Crunch: Along with Senzel, the Dodgers reassigned outfielder Jack Suwinski and catcher Seby Zavala to minor league camp. Suwinski, claimed off waivers from the Pirates, actually put on a power display in limited opportunities, hitting three home runs in eight Cactus League at-bats. Zavala, a veteran backstop signed to work with younger catchers at Triple-A, will continue in that development role. Jesús Made Sets the Tone Early: The Brewers' No. 1 overall prospect opened Sunday's game in the leadoff spot and delivered instantly, turning on the first pitch from Jamie Arnold for a 112.7 mph line drive that traveled 400 feet into the left-center gap. Luis Peña , Made's close friend and fellow shortstop prospect, knocked him in with a single. It was the kind of quick offensive burst that has scouts believing Milwaukee's middle-infield depth is genuinely special. Brady Ebel 's Cannon on Display: Though the Brewers fell short, third base prospect Brady Ebel showcased why he's valued for his arm. All three of his infield assists registered at 88 mph or higher, with his final out of the sixth inning clocking at 91.8 mph. That kind of throw strength from a shortstop remains elite territory in professional baseball and underscores the organization's confidence in his ability to stick at the position despite some rough defensive moments. Stat of the Day Shotaro Morii's 106.6 mph triple. That single batted ball continues the story this spring of baseball's impact on the World. A 19-year-old who signed as a high school player out of Japan and spent his first pro season learning the Arizona Complex League, now blitzing a ball into right field and finding third base with sheer speed and instinct. The fact that it came on his Spring Breakout debut, in front of scouts and analysts who traveled to Arizona specifically to evaluate the top prospects in the game, makes it even more significant. This isn't the typical path for a Japanese player. On the Radar Breyson Guedez , the Athletics' 28th-ranked prospect, connected on a 425-foot two-run homer in the third inning that gave Oakland the lead at 5-4. The 18-year-old outfielder's power stroke registered at 105.6 mph and flew into the berm, the kind of tape-measure distance that catches the attention of anyone tracking young power-hitting prospects. Guedez hasn't gotten the national fanfare of Morii or some of the other high-profile Athletics prospects, but performances like Sunday's Spring Breakout home run remind evaluators that Oakland's farm system has depth beyond its marquee names. Looking Ahead Opening Day arrives in just a few days, and while most rosters are locked in, keep eyes on whether the Mets extend an offer to Carson Benge to join their Opening Day roster. The outfield prospect has been hitting .412 through spring training and manager Carlos Mendoza seems to be leaving the door open for a surprise promotion.