As we start to dream about the fresh blooms of spring training, a few intriguing storylines are already cropping up on the horizon. Sure, it’s October and the diamond might feel a million miles away, but why not dive into what’s brewing for the coming season?

Our focus lights up on two fascinating talents: Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo. Kjerstad, a second-overall pick back in 2020, had his career trajectory altered when diagnosed with myocarditis.

Despite the setbacks, he’s managed to keep baseball observers intrigued. Meanwhile, Mayo has charged up the ranks to become the top prospect in his team’s system and the number eight prospect in MLB according to MLB Pipeline.

With jaw-dropping power, Mayo too leaves fans and scouts buzzing.

The challenge, however, is finding them a spot. Originally pegged as the everyday right fielder, Kjerstad’s journey took a detour after another season of being optioned and dealing with a concussion.

Meanwhile, Anthony Santander’s monster season with 44 home runs adds another layer to the puzzle. On Kjerstad’s part, there’s hardly anything left to prove at Triple-A; his numbers speak volumes with a .301/.397/.601 slash line peppered with home runs and RBIs that make heads turn.

Mayo, on the other hand, didn’t exactly have a batting line to boast about, going just 4-for-41 with a slew of strikeouts at the big league tryout. While he’s more than proven his power, his challenge remains—a consistent spot and reps to showcase them.

With Jordan Westburg gearing up for more starts at third and Ryan Mountcastle’s stronghold on another corner, Mayo’s fit is tricky. Discussions about finding him a place, maybe across different bases for fielding polish, will surely echo around Sarasota’s campsites.

Then there’s Adley Rutschman, whose bat cooled down significantly as the season progressed. A first-half .276 hitter saw that drop dramatically, raising eyebrows and questions.

Health concerns linger around the buzzing foul ball injury and mid-August back tightness rumors, yet Rutschman’s nowhere near entertaining the idea that anything other than game pressure’s the culprit. His flicker of a familiar form late in the game rekindled hopes as the team geared up for the playoffs.

Continuing his switch-hitting ways, especially amid critiques about his struggles from the left, shows Rutschman’s not quick to abandon his battle-tested approaches. We’ve seen glimpses of great OPS from both sides of the plate during his rookie year, and it’s more than likely those strokes could return with more games under his belt.

Lastly, Félix Bautista demands his share of the spotlight. Clocking in with an impressive 2023 before his elbow injury benched him in 2024, Bautista’s potential comeback in 2025 is much awaited. The anticipation around his every throw, bullpen session, or Grapefruit League showdown will echo from media to fans alike, as Bautista might just be the piece to deepen and strengthen the bullpen’s armory.

As the clocks tick down to spring training, these compelling arcs signal another stirring season lying ahead. Whether or not we’re ready for April, the magic starts now.