2025 Sire of Fort Myers Preview: Who Will Claim Sport's Most Prestigious Honor?

[Tom Froemming]

Hear ye, hear ye! ‘Tis time. A new Sire of Fort Myers shall be crowned this spring. Let’s take a look at the history of the award and go over this year’s top contenders for the crown, cape and scepter.

Image courtesy of © Chris Tilley-Imagn Images

This will be the seventh time we’ve crowned a Sire of Fort Myers. Can you believe it!? It feels like just yesterday we witnessed Sire LaMarre go from scrappy longshot to making the Opening Day roster and becoming the Hero In Puerto Rico.

As a refresher, here are the past winners of Sire of Fort Myers:

• 2024 Brooks Lee
• 2023 Willi Castro
• 2022 Jhoan Durán
• 2021 Derek Law
• 2019 Ryne Harper
• 2018 Ryan LaMarre

Players from all different backgrounds have taken the crown, from top prospects to journeymen reclamation projects. There’s also been an even split between hitters and pitchers over the years.

Eligibility
Sire of Fort Myers is all about focusing on the guys who have the most to gain from a great spring. How do we define that? Rigidly. To be considered for the crown, a player must either 1) Not be on the 40-man roster, or 2) Never have played in the majors.

There are a few players every year who fit the typical Sire profile—guys who have a lot to gain from a great spring—but aren’t eligible. This year’s group includes Mickey Gasper (13 MLB games), DaShawn Keirsey Jr. (six) and Jair Camargo (five). Those three are worth monitoring this spring, but rules are rules. They’re on the 40-man roster and have MLB time, so they’re not eligible.

Candidates
Here are the guys on the 40-man roster who have yet to make their MLB debut: Travis Adams, Matt Canterino, Eiberson Castellano, Marco Raya, Diego Cartaya and Emmanuel Rodriguez.

I typically look to this player pool when trying to identify a Sire of Fort Myers favorite, as these guys often get the most spring playing time. Despite that being the case, the only prior winners who fit this description were Lee and Durán.

The Sire of Fort Myers often emerges from the shadows of big-league camp to achieve glory. Castro, Law, Harper and LaMarre were all signed to minor-league deals with zero fanfare. Harper hadn’t even pitched in the big leagues, entering his age-30 season.

This year’s group of non-roster invitees features some of the top prospects (Luke Keaschall, Andrew Morris, Cory Lewis, etc.) and other familiar names who were already in the system in 2024 (Scott Blewett, Randy Dobnak, etc.), but there are also seven players new to the org. These outsiders might not be front of mind, but it’s possible one of them emerges to take the crown. So let’s get to know ‘em.

NRIs New to the Org
Darren McCaughan (mih-CACK-en) saw significant MLB time for the first time in what was a busy year for him. There are 27 different transaction lines from 2024 alone on his MLB player page. He was designated for assignment three times, traded twice, claimed off waivers once and signed a minors deal with the Twins, all in the same calendar year. The 28-year-old right-hander logged 42 innings and posted a 6.21 ERA in the majors with the Marlins and Guardians. He’s pitched 101 Triple-A games, all of them starts. The sweeper is McCaughan’s primary pitch, alongside a sinker that sits 89 mph.

Anthony Misiewicz (mih-SEV-itch) might have the clearest path to a potential role on the big club of any of these NRI newcomers. He’s a 30-year-old left-handed pitcher with 131 MLB games to his name, though he only appeared in one big-league game last season. He pitched to a 3.90 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 55 1/3 Triple-A innings, with a 29.0 K% and 7.6 BB% in 2024. Lefties hit just .207/.253/.317 off him in the minors. He mainly throws an 88-mph cutter, a 93-mph fastball and 79-mph curve.

Erasmo Ramírez is another NRI who has significant big-league time. Entering his age-35 season, Ramírez has 327 MLB games under his belt. He threw 20 2/3 innings out of the bullpen for the Rays last season, and in Triple-A, he had a 3.23 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 28.8 K% and 6.8 BB% in 53 innings. Though his starting days appear to be behind him, Ramírez still features a five-pitch mix. His 89-mph cutter and 91-mph sinker are the primary offerings.

Alex Speas has had a cup of coffee in the bigs each of the past two seasons, amounting to four innings pitched. He’s a soon-to-be 27-year-old right-hander who was drafted in the second round by the Rangers back in 2016, one spot ahead of Pete Alonso and three ahead of Bo Bichette. Player evaluation is difficult. Speas has electric velo, topping out at 100.4 mph during his big-league time, but his command is basically nonexistent. He’s walked 19.6% of the batters he’s faced in 173 1/3 career Triple-A innings.

Huascar Ynoa is a familiar name. He originally signed with the Twins out of the Dominican Republic, but was dealt to Atlanta before he even got out of rookie ball. That looked like it was going to come back to haunt the Twins, as Ynoa had an impressive 2021 season. He was expected to start Game 4 of the NLCS that year, but suffered a shoulder injury during pregame warmups and has never been the same. He had Tommy John surgery in 2022 and missed time with elbow inflammation last year. Ynoa pitched 29 2/3 innings over 14 games in the minors last year. The results weren’t encouraging (6.37 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 17.8 K%, 10.1 BB%), but he’s still only 26 years old. 

Armando Alvarez made his MLB debut just shy of his 30th birthday last season. He played 16 games for Oakland after hitting .315/.407/.560 in 75 games for their Triple-A affiliate. Alvarez hits right-handed and can play just about anywhere in the field. He got a plurality of his reps at second base last year, but played everything but center field and catcher.

Mike Ford is a three-true-outcomes hitter who appeared to have revived his career in 2023. He had an impressive 124 OPS+ with Seattle, slugging 16 home runs in 83 games that season. Ford failed to carry that forward, however, as he struggled mightily in 17 games with the Reds last year. He eventually refused an outright assignment and signed to play in Japan instead. He’s basically confined to DH at this point of his career, but has intrigue as a lefty bat with some pop.

There are also several players the Twins signed to minor-league contracts who didn’t get an invite to big league camp, but who may still see some time in spring games. This will be more common when the team travels away from Fort Myers. Among this group of players is infielder Ryan Fitzgerald, right-handed pitcher Angel Macuare and former first baseman turned right-handed reliever Jacob Bosiokovic, among others.

The Favorites
Who will ultimately become 2025 Sire of Fort Myers is anybody’s best guess, but here’s one name from each player pool I consider the favorite.

Matt Canterino
I can’t quit Canterino. No matter how long it’s been since I’ve seen him pitch, the memories remain. The stuff is too good. There are several strong candidates among the pool of guys on the 40-man roster who are eligible, but he’s my guy.

I realize Canterino has more rust on him than a junkyard Buick Riviera, but the arm talent is undeniable. Despite the injuries, the Twins have remained heavily invested. The front office has kept Canterino on the 40-man roster over the past two entire seasons, despite the fact that he hasn’t pitched in a single regular-season game over that stretch. He did pitch a couple of games last spring, striking out five of the 13 batters he faced.

“You get a guy like [Canterino] healthy and on a little bit of a roll, you do not have to squint too hard to see him getting a ton of swing and miss at the big-league level,” Rocco Baldelli told reporters in Fort Myers on Thursday. “He has to get back out there, regain the feel for who he is and what he's doing. Put a little bit of a workload on himself and we'll see where he's at.”

Baldelli added that Canterino is a guy “we still have very, very high hopes for.”

Any one of the other five players from the pool of guys on the 40-man roster who haven’t debuted would be a logical pick for the favorite. It’s just easiest for me to envision Canterino dominating opponents and turning in the near-perfect spring required to win Sire of Fort Myers.

Yunior Severino
Call this more of a hunch, but Severino is my pick among the NRIs with whom we’re already familiar. Wait, didn’t the Twins DFA him this offseason? Yes, but they brought him back on a minor-league deal. Though first base is his primary position, Severino got some work in right field with the Saints last year and still plays a little third base. Throw in the fact that he’s a switch-hitter, and Severino is basically a funhouse mirror version of Willi Castro, trading out the athleticism to play premium defensive positions for eye-popping power instead.

Severino led the Twins' minor-league system with 21 homers last season, and before that, he was the co-leader in minor-league home runs in 2023. Consistency has been elusive, but Severino is an absolute force when he’s on. In a 50-game stretch from May 22 to Aug. 1 last season, Severino posted a .353/.454/.599 line for the Saints, with 12 home runs. He also had a completely manageable 22.5 K% to go with an impressive 15.9 BB% during that hot streak. Could he pull off something like that this spring? I think it’s possible.

Defensive versatility should help Severino get plenty of looks. There’s a path to playing time for a first base/designated hitter option and corner outfield platoon bat. The smart money is on Severino spending another full season in St. Paul, but it’s not difficult to imagine him playing his way back into the big-league picture.

Anthony Misiewicz
Switching gears to the NRIs who are new to the org, Misiewicz is my pick. This guy has a decent MLB track record, and his pitch data mostly backs it up. Let’s not get too carried away—I understand why he was available on a minors deal—but this is a nice risk-free addition to the thin left-handed reliever group.

The Twins brought back former multi-time Sire of Fort Myers honorable mention Danny Coulombe to replace the departing Caleb Thielbar as their primary bullpen lefty. Behind Coulombe, the only other lefty reliever on the 40-man roster is Kody Funderburk, who is expected to start the year in St. Paul. The Twins entered the offseason with Brent Headrick and Jovani Morán in this mix, but both are with new organizations now.

While Misiewicz is currently nowhere near in position to break camp with the Twins, the lack of lefty relief depth makes it easy to imagine scenarios in which he makes it back to the majors. Coulombe hasn’t been the most durable guy, and Funderburk hasn’t established himself as a big-league arm yet. Given his relative proximity to a major-league role, I expect the Twins to take a good, long look at Misiewicz this spring.

Final thoughts
When you boil it down, Sire of Fort Myers is all about adding more substance to spring training games. It’s an additional storyline to follow, another excuse to pay attention. For the vast majority of players, spring is simply about getting in work. While established major leaguers have very little to gain or lose from their spring, some of these guys along the fringes are playing for their baseball lives. A big spring performance can be the spark that dramatically alters their careers. We’ve seen it before. Could it happen again?

John Bonnes contributed to this report.

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[Parfigliano]

At this point LaMarre should think about sliding over to the coaching side of the game.

[Doctor Gast]

I think Alvarez would have had a shot if they hadn't signed Gasper & France. Since they were signed with a MLB contract they'll have every opportunity to make the team ahead of him.

I have high hopes for Canterino but I think I saw him listed as a SP. Unless they dial back his innings maybe put him in the pen his trip to the IL would be unfortunately inevitable

[PatPfund]

The true battle of training camp! (I'm putting some longer odds fake money on Castellano, but for the team's sake, I'd love for it to be Canterino and Keaschall pushing for the honor.)

[old nurse]

6 award winner, 4 had less than stellar seasons afterwards. Please don’t curse anyone who could be useful by giving them this award 

[bean5302]

Eiberson Castellano is my pick. If he can learn to get that first pitch strike rate up, he could be very good.

[Major League Ready]

2 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Eiberson Castellano is my pick. If he can learn to get that first pitch strike rate up, he could be very good.

I like it.  That would be very cool.  Have we had a rule 5 pick of any consequence since Johan Santana?

[bean5302]

6 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I like it.  That would be very cool.  Have we had a rule 5 pick of any consequence since Johan Santana?

Only ones leaving the organization, heh.

[Cory Engelhardt]

Payton Eeles. Final answer

[Blyleven2011]

Good enthusiastic analysis  , great to see a write up about canterino and they aren't giving up on him ...

I do believe he should go the bullpen route and build up back to a starter maybe ...

I have no idea if anyone will be the sire of fort Myers  , is that possible or someone has to win it every year  ???

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Payton Eeles. Final answer

Can the Sire actually be won by someone playing his Spring games on the back fields? 😀

[Cory Engelhardt]

Just now, ashbury said:

Can the Sire actually be won by someone playing his games on the back fields? 😀

Where there is a will there’s a way :)

[DocBauer]

Keaschall teasing everyone with his future is my #1, though he might begin limited to DH only as they test out his arm. I believe he's supposed to be full go by mid March?

My #2 is Canterino. The TJ is over and done with and he's FINALLY due a little good luck in his pro career. He won't break with the club, but he's going to be used ONE INNING at a time in the spring and look like it will be between he and Varland for "next man up" when they need a pen arm.

 

[DJL44]

 I'll go with Cartaya as most likely to make the Opening Day roster, but it would be due to an injury to one of the catchers in front of him on the depth chart.

[bean5302]

20 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

 I'll go with Cartaya as most likely to make the Opening Day roster, but it would be due to an injury to one of the catchers in front of him on the depth chart.

Think so? Shipping Castellano back to the Phillies before even seeing an MLB game? I don't actually have the stats on how many Rule 5 guys never see opening day, but I'd imagine it's fairly rare to offer guys back before they get any MLB time.

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

Can the Sire actually be won by someone playing his Spring games on the back fields? 😀

You are right though. If he isn’t in big league camp he wouldn’t win. My bad on reading the directions, or lack thereof :)

[David HK]

I'm gonna go with DaShawn slightly over Mr. Eeles.  And I'll wager 1,000! 

(Thai Baht left over from the last trip to Chiang Mai).

[David HK]

---Whomever the Sire winds up to be, the best news of the year was posted at the bottom of a Strib article:

"• Twins owner Joe Pohlad arrived at camp Saturday and observed the team’s workout. It’s likely Pohlad’s final spring in charge of the Twins, as his family explores selling the franchise."

Huzzah!

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, David HK said:

"• Twins owner Joe Pohlad arrived at camp Saturday

... In The Best Shape of His Life!™

[Tom Froemming]

5 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

I have no idea if anyone will be the sire of fort Myers  , is that possible or someone has to win it every year  ???

There is a winner picked every year. So far, there's always been someone worthy of honoring. Hopefully that trend continues.

3 hours ago, DocBauer said:

Keaschall teasing everyone with his future is my #1, though he might begin limited to DH only as they test out his arm. I believe he's supposed to be full go by mid March?

Correct, that was the expectation Keaschall himself set during an interview at TwinsFest.

5 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Payton Eeles. Final answer

2 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

You are right though. If he isn’t in big league camp he wouldn’t win. My bad on reading the directions, or lack thereof :)

Despite not being on the big league side of camp, Eeles could still get into a decent number of spring games and build a case for Sire of Fort Myers. He would really have to make the most of his limited opportunities, but it's possible.

[DJL44]

3 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Think so? Shipping Castellano back to the Phillies before even seeing an MLB game? I don't actually have the stats on how many Rule 5 guys never see opening day, but I'd imagine it's fairly rare to offer guys back before they get any MLB time.

You're probably right, though it seems like he makes the roster no matter what happens this spring.

[dxpavelka]

Johan Santana's and Shane Macks are rare.  Pull up "Rule 5 Draft Results" on Wikipedia.  Few stick around.

[LambchoP]

Best odds are probably on Castellano since he needs to stay on the roster if we want to keep him. I still think we should work out a trade so we could send him back down to AA or AAA. Eeles would be a fun pick to. If he keeps hitting like he did last year, he could be a great utility guy and Castro replacement next year. Canterino in the pen and Severino at first base could happen if they both can bounce back and if there are injuries. The fact that the Twins haven't given up on either of these guys shows that there is still promise. Keaschal by mid season hopefully. Not because of injury or poor performance hopefully, but because he's performing way to well in AAA to not get the call. Can't wait for games to start! Wish spring training games were televised though.

[PatPfund]

19 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

I like it.  That would be very cool.  Have we had a rule 5 pick of any consequence since Johan Santana?

Ryan Pressley was a Rule 5 pick. (Some good years, plus he brought us Gilberto Celestino in a trade. Which might cancel out the good years...)

[ashbury]

15 hours ago, LambchoP said:

Best odds are probably on Castellano since he needs to stay on the roster if we want to keep him. I still think we should work out a trade so we could send him back down to AA or AAA.

What if Philly wants him back, which they probably do?  Might have to give up a good pitching prospect in return.

[LambchoP]

9 hours ago, ashbury said:

What if Philly wants him back, which they probably do?  Might have to give up a good pitching prospect in return.

That's true, I wonder what it would take in order to complete a trade. I know Castellano was their minor league pitcher of the year in '24, but he only reached AA. Seems he's still at least one year away, which makes me think it'll be hard to keep him in the pen all year if he struggles since we will have other viable options in AAA.