The Daily Briefing — Thursday, March 12
By Morgan Davis · Thu Mar 12 2026
Today we're going to highlight some lesser know prospects as well as some independent league transactions. This won't be a common occurence on 80Grade's Daily Briefing, but I think it is important that we recognize players from all levels to emphasize the holistic reach we'd like to maintain. 80Grade is about the youth player at the earliest stage of development all the way to the veteran Major-Leaguer signing their final contract. The independent leagues have amazing stories of persistence and resilience and we don't want to miss those. Phillies right-hander Brad Pacheco announced his presence with authority on the back fields yesterday, striking out four batters across two innings with his slider generating consistent whiffs that left evaluators taking notes. The 20-year-old Venezuelan-born prospect fired 33 pitches with 23 for strikes, sitting 93-98 mph with his fastball while featuring the slider as his out pitch. This performance marks a tangible step forward for Pacheco, who struggled through 2025 with a 6.15 ERA across the Florida Complex League. The stuff profile itself has always been there; yesterday was about command and conviction. He attacked hitters without hesitation, worked ahead in counts, and trusted his breaking ball when he needed it most. For a young arm still building his foundation, this is exactly the kind of spring showing that gets prospect evaluators believing the trajectory is pointing upward. Quick Hits Marty Gair , Pacheco's fellow Phillies right-hander, delivered one perfect inning with two strikeouts on just 14 pitches while his fastball sat at 95-98 mph. The stuff is clearly there; consistency across a full season will tell us whether Gair can sustain this level of performance as he progresses through the system. His lively fastball impressed everyone watching yesterday, and if the command continues to track this way, he could develop into a more meaningful arm down the line. Payton Eeles has positioned himself as a legitimate option to impact the Orioles’ lineup at some point this season. Undrafted out of Coastal Carolina, Eeles began his pro career in indy ball before the Twins scooped him up for a minor-league deal in May 2024, and he promptly hit his way from A-ball to Triple-A with a .306/.435/.497 line, plus 41 steals, forcing his way onto prospect lists and eventually into Baltimore’s plans. Given his track record of getting on base, running well, and playing both second base and shortstop, the outlook for this season is that he’ll push quickly for a utility or table‑setting role in the majors if he keeps making loud contact and controlling the zone the way he did over the last two years. The independent Atlantic League made several notable moves to round out their pitching and position player depth. Conner Greene , a former Major League pitcher who has pitched for both the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers, inked a deal with the Lexington Legends. Greene posted a dominant 0.92 ERA with 23 strikeouts across 19.2 innings in four starts for the Adelaide Giants in the Australian Baseball League, demonstrating he still has high-velocity stuff at his disposal. At 6-foot-4 with big league experience, he brings both pedigree and reliability to an independent roster looking to compete immediately. The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs signed two prospects yesterday to bolster their 2026 roster. Ezequiel Pagan , a 25-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder, joins after spending time in the Dodgers organization at Double-A Tulsa, where he hit .249 with six home runs and 38 RBIs across 77 games last season. Pagan is described by the Blue Crabs as an elite athlete capable of playing all three outfield positions with legitimate power and baserunning ability. Alongside him comes Sebastian Mueller, a 24-year-old third baseman from Quinnipiac University, who hit .321 with 15 home runs and 56 RBIs in 56 games during his final college season. Mueller projects as a corner infielder with real pop in the bat and professional experience already under his belt from last summer's independent ball stint. The Gary SouthShore RailCats strengthened their bullpen by retaining Nate Alexander, the 2024 All-Star reliever who delivered another strong 2025 season in the American Association. Alexander will return for his third year in green and maroon after posting a 3.24 ERA with nine saves and 113 strikeouts across 88 games over his two seasons with the RailCats. His reliability out of the bullpen gives the RailCats continuity they lean on in high-leverage situations. The Kansas City Monarchs added local flavor to their pitching staff by signing Nate Webb , a 28-year-old right-hander from Lee's Summit who was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2016 and spent time on their 40-man roster. Webb pitched for Baltimore's farm system last year, splitting time between Triple-A Norfolk (0-1, 4.33 ERA in 16 games) and Double-A Chesapeake (1-1, 5.29 ERA in 12 games), and will bring veteran experience and familiarity with Kansas City baseball back to his hometown organization. Stat of the Day Vinnie Pasquantino delivered a historic performance for Team Italy, launching three solo home runs in a 9–1 World Baseball Classic win over Mexico to become the first player ever with a three-homer game in the tournament’s history. Serving as Italy’s captain and cleanup hitter, he went deep in the second, sixth, and eighth innings at Houston’s Daikin Park, each blast punctuated by espresso-shot celebrations in the dugout as Italy clinched the top spot in Pool B, advanced to the quarterfinals, and simultaneously secured Team USA’s place in the next round.