The inaugural Major League Baseball Spring Breakout is in the books, and USA Baseball alumni made their mark all weekend long. Featuring the top prospects from every big-league organization, Spring Breakout put the future of baseball on display over 13 games at Spring Training facilities in both Arizona and Florida. Seventy-three Team USA alumni were on Spring Breakout rosters – let’s check out the best moments and notable performances from the weekend.
TOP MOMENTS
BATTLE OF NUMBER ONE PICKS
In one of the most anticipated matchups of the weekend, three-time Team USA alum Paul Skenes took the mound against Jackson Holliday (2022 18U) in a battle of number one overall picks. Skenes got the better of Holliday after falling behind in the count, striking him out on a slider as part of a perfect opening frame for Pittsburgh. Holliday (No. 1) and Skenes (No. 3) are among the most highly regarded prospects in the sport by MLB Pipeline.
JUNG GOES YARD TWICE
2021 Collegiate National Team alum Jace Jung was the star of the show in the Tigers’ 5-1 victory over the Phillies. Jung clubbed two home runs in the win, first leaving the yard in the opening frame. Then, in the bottom of the fifth, the lefty slugged a 412-foot blast over the wall in right-center for his second of the day. Jung is the Tigers’ fourth-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
LIGHTS OUT LOWDER
Rhett Lowder (2022 CNT) was lights out on the mound for the Reds in their 4-1 win over the Rangers. The 34th ranked prospect in baseball (MLB Pipeline) threw two hitless innings with a pair of strikeouts, working around a two-out error in the fifth.
PERFECT DAY FOR TEEL
Two-time Collegiate National Team alum Kyle Teel was one of two players to pick up two hits in the Red Sox' 7-2 victory over the Braves. Teel was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate, singling in the first before socking an RBI double as part of a four-run frame in the third. Teel enters the 2024 campaign as Boston’s third-ranked prospect.
GEORGE NOTCHES TWO EXTRA-BASE KNOCKS
Kendall George (2022 18U) was all over the box score for the Dodgers in their win over the Angels, going 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, an RBI, and two runs scored. George’s first knock came in the top of the third when he hit a two-out double and scored on a single. George then tripled to right field in the top of the fourth, driving home a run before scoring again on a single. George was a first-round pick by Los Angeles in 2023.
JERSEY SWAPS
Four former Team USA teammates played against each other in their Spring Breakout Matchups before swapping jerseys on the field postgame. 2022 CNT teammates Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Paul Skenes faced off on Friday, while 2022 18U National Team gold medalists Max Clark and Aidan Miller battled on Saturday.
NOTABLE HITTERS
%Jace Jung (DET): 2-for-2, 2 HR, 2 RBI, BB
%Kyle Teel (BOS): 2-for-2, RBI
^Kendall George (LAD): 2-for-3, RBI, 2 R
^Drew Romo (COL): 2-for-2, RBI
Ryan Clifford (NYM): 1-for-1, R, RBI
Kevin Parada (NYM): 1-for-2, R, RBI
Luke Waddell (ATL): 1-for-1, RBI, BB
Dylan Crews (WSH): 1-for-2
Yohandy Morales (WSH): 1-for-3, R
Tre’ Morgan (TB): 1-for-2, 2 RBI
Aidan Miller (PHI): 1-for-2, RBI
AJ Vukovich (ARI): 1-for-2, 2 RBI
Austin Martin (MIN): 1-for-3, R
Brooks Lee (MIN): 1-for-3, R
Petey Halpin (CLE): 1-for-3, R, RBI
% denotes All-Spring Breakout First Team
^ denotes All-Spring Breakout Second Team
NOTABLE PITCHERS
%Rhett Lowder (CIN): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
%Paul Skenes (PIT): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Hunter Barco (PIT): 2 IP, H, 0 R, 1 K
Brandon Sproat (NYM): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Carson Palmquist (COL): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Nolan McLean (NYM): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K
% denotes All-Spring Breakout First Team
* the games between the White Sox/Cubs and Giants/Athletics were canceled due to weather
** the game between the Padres/Mariners was rescheduled for March 23 due to weather
