TEMPE, Ariz. -- The 2026 MLB Spring Training season officially kicked off this weekend, and no storyline looms larger than the Los Angeles Dodgers pursuit of a historic three-peat. Armed with an already loaded roster featuring Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, the two-time defending World Series champions added even more firepower this offseason, signing free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million deal and acquiring elite closer Edwin Diaz.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Tucker will make his spring training debut on Sunday, while right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to take the mound for the Cactus League opener against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday in Tempe. The excitement around the Dodgers camp is palpable, as the franchise attempts something no team has accomplished since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees -- winning three straight championships.

Tucker, widely considered the top free agent on the market this winter, has already embraced his new surroundings. In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, the All-Star outfielder described the experience of joining the Dodgers clubhouse as "pretty special," noting the caliber of talent assembled in every corner of the roster. With Tucker slotting into a lineup that already features multiple MVP-caliber bats, opposing pitchers face a daunting challenge from top to bottom of the order.

But while optimism overflows in Arizona, the mood in Sarasota is far more somber for the Baltimore Orioles. On Friday, February 20, Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias announced that third baseman Jordan Westburg has been diagnosed with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right throwing elbow. The 27-year-old reported soreness after throwing during a recent Spring Training workout, compounding an earlier tweaked right oblique.

Westburg will receive a platelet-rich plasma injection and avoid surgery for now, but he is expected to miss at least through the end of April. Elias noted that the partial tear may have existed for some time, only now flaring up to a level requiring intervention. The loss of Westburg is a significant blow to Baltimore's infield, which is already dealing with the absence of Jackson Holliday, who is recovering from surgery to repair a fractured hamate bone.

Across the league, this spring also marks the full implementation of the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System. Every game between MLB teams played at an MLB stadium in 2026 will feature the T-Mobile-powered ABS technology, a major step toward modernizing the on-field product after years of testing in the minor leagues.

In the college ranks, top 2026 MLB Draft prospects are already making noise. Roch Cholowsky, ranked as the No. 1 Draft prospect, crushed his fourth home run in just five games, while No. 3 prospect Justin Lebron delivered another multi-homer performance. Florida right-hander Liam Peterson, the No. 13 Draft prospect, was dominant on the mound with 12 strikeouts across five and a third scoreless innings.

As pitchers and catchers settle in and position players ramp up across Arizona and Florida, the 2026 season is already shaping up to deliver compelling drama. Whether the Dodgers can achieve the unthinkable three-peat, how the Orioles navigate a battered roster, and which young prospects emerge as future stars will be among the stories that define the months ahead.