Fernando Tatis Jr. excited for his 1st World Baseball Classic
Baseball is heating up quickly, San Diego FC has an embarrassment of riches, NFL Scouting Combine wraps up, and more!
Whatever focus there has been on MLB Spring Training is probably about to disappear. The World Baseball Classic starts tomorrow, and most of the the biggest MLB stars will be playing against each other in games that mean almost as much as the MLB Playoffs.
Some of the teams, such as USA and the Dominican Republic (the two teams that will get the bulk of attention from San Diego Padres fans during the WBC), don’t officially start playing meaningful WBC games until late this week. However, there are some warm-up games that will be fun to pay attention to, including Great Britain going up against the Padres in a Spring Training game tomorrow in Peoria, AZ.
This time with the superstars away at the WBC should present an opportunity for some under-the-radar players on the Padres to make their case for making the roster, and it’ll give baseball fans reason to watch games during the day and at night.
If you are a baseball junkie, strap in. It’s about to get really fun.
Now, onto the links…
San Diego Padres / World Baseball Classic
Passionate Tatis ‘built for’ World Baseball Classic stage - MLB.com
“It’s what I’m built for,” Tatis said Friday, shortly before he left Padres camp to join the Dominican Republic ahead of the WBC.
And yet, Tatis has still never competed at the WBC. The 2021 edition was canceled due to COVID, and in ‘23 Tatis was still serving his PED suspension and ineligible to compete. At long last, he’s slated to make his Classic debut when the event gets underway later this week.
“It’s a dream come true,” Tatis said. “It’s what I wanted as a kid. Being able to do it now, at this stage of my life and my career, it’s a special moment.”
How to watch the 2026 World Baseball Classic: Full schedule, where to stream games free and more - Yahoo Sports
Almost all of this year’s World Baseball Classic games will air on either FOX, FS1, or FS2, and 41 of the 47 games in the tournament will also be broadcast in Spanish on FOX Deportes. A select few games will be available on the Fox Sports App and/or Tubi. The Championship Game in Miami on Tuesday, March 17 will air on Fox.
Michael King battles command, Nick Castellanos has busy day in spring loss to A’s - San Diego Union-Tribune
Michael King continued to get stretched out in his second Cactus League start, though he needed the liberal spring training allowance of a starting pitcher being able to return to a game after being removed. King struggled with his command and was pulled after allowing his fourth hit with two outs in the second inning. The right-hander threw 22 pitches in the first inning, just 10 of them strikes. That is also when he allowed Tyler Soderstrom’s two-run homer. A two-run single by Shea Langeliers drove King from the game in the second inning. He departed for good after getting a double play grounder in the third inning, having thrown a total of 57 pitches (32 strikes).
San Diego FC / San Diego Wave FC
San Diego Wave signs Brazil international Gabi Portilho from Gotham - The Athletic
San Diego Wave has signed Brazil international Gabi Portilho from NJ/NY Gotham FC for $175,000 in transfer fees.
The 30-year-old attacker has signed a deal through the end of the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season with an option of an extra year, the teams announced Monday.
Portilho joins the Wave after playing just one season in the NWSL with Gotham, following her arrival from Brazilian side SC Corinthians in December 2024.
Duran Ferree posts another shutout, and SDFC appears to have depth in goal - San Diego Union-Tribune
At 19 years old, Duran Ferree is forcing a conversation few expected this early in San Diego FC’s season.
Two career starts in Major League Soccer. Two clean sheets. And suddenly, a goalkeeper situation that once felt temporary has turned competitive.
That is the way SDFC coach Mikey Varas expects it to be.
“It’s the culture that we’ve set here,” Varas said. “If you play well, you have an opportunity to keep playing.”
On a night when SDFC handled St. Louis City FC 2-0 with relative ease at Snapdragon Stadium, Ferree didn’t need to make a dozen highlight-reel saves. What the San Diego native did instead — command his box, organize his back line and deliver in the few high-leverage moments that surfaced — underscored why San Diego’s staff believes he’s ready for this stage.
Odds & Ends
2026 NFL combine: Mel Kiper’s draft standouts, top workouts - ESPN
It was an eventful combine week, with more than 300 prospects in the 2026 NFL draft class heading to Indianapolis for on-field drills, 40-yard dashes, medical testing and/or interviews with team personnel.
Not everyone participated in workouts, and some were selective in what they did. But several players improved their draft outlook by putting up solid performances and exceeding (or simply meeting/confirming) expectations. Which prospects did the most for their stock? Who is suddenly getting buzz ahead of where they were slotted before the combine?
Duke legend Mike Krzyzewski says he’s not in favor of expanding NCAA tournament: ‘That’s a big mistake’ - Yahoo Sports
Legendary Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski retired from coaching in 2022, but he still has plenty of opinions on the current state of the game. Krzyzewski spoke out against NCAA tournament expansion Monday, calling the idea “a big mistake.”
Krzyzewski’s expanded on those thoughts during an appearance on Jeff Goodman’s “The Field of 68: After Dark” show. When asked about current NCAA president Charlie Baker, Krzyzewski, unprompted, brought up NCAA tournament expansion, saying he was not a fan of the idea.
Cycling Prodigy Paul Seixas Accepts The Sport’s Defining Burden - Defector
Seixas’s talent is undeniable. He spent his brief junior career dominating those in his age group, setting the stage for a spectacular neo-pro season in which he was the youngest rider at the WorldTour level. Seixas raised eyebrows at his first pro race when he put down a huge performance at last February’s GP Grand Prix La Marseillaise, and he was all set for a big spring until he crashed out of the UAE Tour. He recovered in time to have a great Tour of the Alps in April, finishing 1-2 with teammate Nicolas Prodhomme and defying team orders to take the win for himself, before truly hitting the world stage at the Criterium du Dauphine. In the traditional Tour de France tuneup’s most competitive edition in years, Seixas finished eighth.
After years of construction, Safari Park’s massive new elephant habitat is opening - San Diego Union-Tribune
The habitat, named Denny Sanford Elephant Valley after its lead donor, is within the footprint of the old elephant area but with flatter topography and twice the amount of usable space for the park’s herd. Officials say the habitat provides an “immersive journey” for guests, designed to have them feel as though they are walking beside elephants on pathways and over a bridge that overlooks two habitat areas.
Defense Department tells San Diego military bases to remain on alert for attacks - San Diego Union-Tribune
The Defense Department’s Northern Command has told Navy and Marine bases in San Diego County and other parts of the country to “remain alert to the potential for attacks targeting U.S. facilities and personnel,” according to an advisory obtained by the Union-Tribune.
The advisory was issued in connection with the joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran that is being led, in part, by the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group.
Naval Base Coronado has already taken action, notifying the public to expect traffic delays at all entrance gates due to increased base security measures.