As Major League Baseball (MLB) teams start their spring training, there are many players from Ohio to look out for.
The Ohio State Buckeyes have produced many MLB players who will not only be in spring training but have already made their impact at the big league level.
Dillon Dingler (catcher) was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2020. Dingler had a standout season in 2025, hitting .278 and catching for Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. Dingler and the Tigers made a run in the postseason and hope to do it again in 2026.
Zach Denzenzo (utility) from the Houston Astros and Dominic Canzone (outfield) from the Seattle Mariners have also been in the majors for a few seasons. Both of them will play for team Italy in the World Baseball Classic in March before they start their MLB seasons.
Ryan Feltner and Jack Neely, both pitchers, look to have more sustaining seasons in 2026. Feltner, for the Colorado Rockies, had only six appearances while Neely also had six appearances for the Chicago Cubs last season.
The Columbus surrounding area has produced two of the biggest prospects in the game as well.
AJ Ewing, an outfielder in the New York Mets system, graduated from Springboro High School and was drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Ewing finished 2025 in AA with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies where he hit .339 in just 28 games.
According to mlb.com, Ewing is the 97th ranked prospect in all of minor league baseball at the young age of 21.
Another top prospect, Colt Emerson (infielder), ranks in the top 10 of all prospects at ninth. Emerson attended John Glenn High School and got drafted in the first round to the Seattle Mariners in 2023. Emerson has hit .285 and fielded exceptionally well throughout his time in the minors and could potentially debut in 2026.
An Ohio Dominican Panther will also represent Ohio this summer. Jack Mathey (catcher) was signed by the San Diego Padres in July of 2024. Mathey finished the 2025 season playing for the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Padres AAA affiliate. It is uncertain if Mathey will be in Arizona this spring, but look for him to find success throughout the 2026 season.
MLB teams will start their spring training in either the Cactus League in Phoenix or the Grapefruit League in Florida.
Teams have already reported to their destinations and are preparing to play around 30 games before the regular season.
Spring training games began on Feb. 20 and will continue till around March 25.
The Cleveland Guardians start their regular season in Seattle on March 26, playing the Mariners. After a West Coast trip, the Guardians will open up at Progressive Field on April 3 against the Chicago Cubs for their home opener.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt told Mason Horodyski and other media via X, “I don’t want to win the division. I want to win the World Series … We want that ultimate prize. We’re working everyday for that.”
The Cincinnati Reds start their regular season at Great American Ballpark on March 26 against the Boston Red Sox in a three game series.
More Ohio Players to Watch in 2026:
Kyle Nicolas – Pittsburgh Pirates (Massillon)
Ryan Bergert – San Diego Padres (Canton)
Aidan Longwell – Colorado Rockies (Massillon)
Gavin Bruni – Washington Nationals (Alliance)
Jacob Miller – Miami Marlins (Columbus)
Jake Casey – Toronto Blue Jays (Cincinnati)
Josh Timmerman – Milwaukee Brewers (Blacklick)
Nick Wissman – San Diego Padres (Dayton)
