Rolling over from the World Baseball Classic, the 2026 Major League Baseball season begins. Between the offseason and new free agent pickups, some teams look to improve drastically and others, minimally. Young studs try to make a name for themselves, with the veterans looking to be consistent.
The reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers look to go back-to-back as they picked up multi-All Star winner Kyle Tucker, an outfielder from the Chicago Cubs. Even with the Dodgers adding to their many weapons with Tucker, a team like the Baltimore Orioles will try to win the big game this year, adding two sluggers like first baseman Pete Alonso, and outfielder Taylor Ward. Both guys are 30+ homerun hitters.
In contrast, a team like Nationals look to take a huge leap forward this year. Using a mix of prospects, veterans, as well as some superstars, the D.C. team looks to replicate their successful 2019 season. The struggling Nationals look to end a line of losing seasons that have led fans to question ownership or a move.
DMV superstars such as Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson and Nationals outfielder James Wood look to have breakout seasons after dipping their toes in the water. Henderson looks to carry on his play from the World Baseball Classic, as he hit a substantial .400 average and two home runs over four games for team USA.
Two faces of the game look to come back from injuries and help benefit their teams this season: multi MVP winner Mike Trout, outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels, and Ronald Acuna Jr, outfielder for the Atlanta Braves. Trout, who has been injury prone the last couple of seasons, looks to stay healthy and get back into that MVP race. Acuna looks to recover from his torn ACL and use his tools to get another 30-30 season (30 home runs and 30 stolen bases).
The two MVP’s of last season, American League Winner Aaron Judge, and National League winner Shohei Ohtani, try to duplicate the seasons they just had. Judge, an outfielder for the New York Yankees, had a rough campaign for team USA during the World Baseball Classic and looks to forget that stint. Although Judge has had early struggles, sophomore Ashton Yang believes “Shohei Ohtani and Aron Judge will win MVP again because their consistency is unmatched,” Yang said
As teams get a new chance to surge into the playoffs, there is optimism toward who those teams can be. There have been teams to burst onto the scene in past years, so who may that dark horse be this year? “The Milwaukee Brewers will be a dark horse this year as they have a good pitching staff with young stars and have power in their lineup as well as they have good fundamentals,” junior Keon Gray said.
The Brewers had made the playoffs, but had lost in the NLCS 4-0 in the series to the champion Los Angeles Dodgers. As the Dodgers have got much stronger this offseason, some will question who will match up with them in the World Series. The Mariners look to win their first World Series in franchise history, and become the new powerhouse of the league. “I think the World Series will be The Seattle Mariners vs. The Los Angeles Dodgers,” sophomore Nathan Neches said.
