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Russianoil shipments to Hungaryand Slovakia have been interrupted since Jan. 27 after what Ukrainian officials say wereRussian attacksthat damaged the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude into Central Europe.

Hungary and Slovakia, which have both received a temporary exemption from a European Union policyprohibiting imports of Russian oil, have accused Ukraine — without providing evidence — of deliberately holding up supplies.

In a video posted on social media Wednesday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said the interruption to oil deliveries was "a political decision made by the Ukrainian president himself."

Ukraine has denied such accusations.

Szijjártó added that Hungary has enough oil reserves to last more than three months, and that its energy security was assured.

As nearly every country in Europe has significantly reduced or entirely ceased Russian energy imports, Hungary — an EU and NATO member — has maintained and even increased its supply of Russian oil and gas since Moscow launched itswar in Ukrainein February 2022.

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Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has long argued Russian fossil fuels are indispensable for its economy and that switching to energy sourced from elsewhere would cause animmediate economic collapse— an argumentsome experts dispute.

Widely seen as the Kremlin's biggest advocate in the EU, Orbán has vigorously opposed the bloc's efforts to sanction Moscow over its invasion, and blasted attempts to hit Russia's energy revenues that help finance the war.

Facing what promises to be themost challenging election of his last 16 years in powerin April, Orbán has launched an aggressiveanti-Ukraineandanti-EUcampaign, seeking to convince voters that the neighboring country poses an existential risk to Hungary and that he is the only guarantor of its safety.

Following the interruption to Druzhba oil supplies at the end of January, Hungary's government asked neighboring Croatia to allow Russian oil delivered by sea to be pumped to refineries in Hungary and Slovakia via the Adria pipeline.

Croatia's Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar has said his country would not allow energy supplies in Central Europe be threatened, but pushed back on Hungary's request.

Writing on social media site X on Monday, Šušnjar said there are "no technical excuses left for staying tied to Russian crude for any EU country."

"A barrel bought from Russia may appear cheaper to some countries, but helps fund war and attacks on Ukrainian people," he wrote.

Jackson'sfamilyon Feb. 18 revealed preliminary funeral plans for the longtime activist whodied at 84following a lengthy illness withprogressive supranuclear palsy, a rare disease that causes a decline similar to Parkinson's disease but accelerated.

The towering civil rights iconbattled alongside Martin Luther King Jr., negotiated global hostage releases and shamed corporations for their lack of corporate diversity and failure to support voting rights. Jackson founded what would ultimately become the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and was a Democratic presidential candidate in 1984 and 1988, energizing and registering millions of Black voters.

As tributes pour in for Jackson and his family, the nation is preparing to mourn Jackson's prolific legacy of activism. Here's what we know about funeral plans and public observances in the coming days.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering civil rights icon who battled alongside Martin Luther King Jr., negotiated global hostage releases, and shamed corporations for their lack of corporate diversity and failure to support voting rights, has died. He was 84.

See his family, including six children and his longtime wife, beginning here
with a family portrait outside the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was assassinated at the National Civil Rights Museum on April 3, 2018 in Memphis, Tenn.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Martin Luther King III, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Jackson's son Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL) walk across Edmund Pettus Bridge as they commemorate the 60th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" on March 9, 2025 in Selma, Alabama.

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See Civil Rights icon Jesse Jackson's family and history

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering civil rights icon who battled alongside Martin Luther King Jr., negotiated global hostage releases, and shamed corporations for their lack of corporate diversity and failure to support voting rights,has died. He was 84.See his family, including six children and his longtime wife, beginning herewith a family portrait outside the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was assassinated at the National Civil Rights Museum on April 3, 2018 in Memphis, Tenn.

What we know about Jackson's funeral

Speaking in Chicago on Feb. 18, Jackson's family announced services to honor Jackson will begin "in earnest" next week. Jackson is expected to lie in state at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters in Chicago, and a memorial service will be held at a nearby church that is yet to be determined.

A final celebration of life is set to be held the coalition's headquarters.

'Personality, grit and street smarts':Trump says he knew Jesse Jackson well

'All are welcome'

Anyone is invited to gather in remembrance of Jackson, his family said.

"We will do our best to accommodate everyone," Jackson's son, Jesse Jackson Jr., said on Feb. 18.

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"Come respectful and come to say thank you, but these homegoing services are welcome to all, Democrat, Republican, liberal and conservative, right wing, left wing, because his life is broad enough to cover the full spectrum of what it means to be an American," Jackson said.

He continued that the family will post further details and logistics about any services onJesseJacksonlegacy.com.

Jesse Jackson's most powerful quotes:'Keep the hope alive' and more

Why Chicago?

Jackson was born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941, but the Windy City always represented a second home for him. At the time of his death, he lived on Chicago's South Shore and had contributed decades of local leadership to civil rights causes.

Jackson attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign until his sophomore year and then transferred North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College in Greensboro. After college, Jackson moved in 1964 to Chicago toattend the Chicago Theological Seminary.

He organized peers who drove from Chicago to Selma, Alabama, to join Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1965 campaign for voting rights, according tothe Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University. He then went on to help King start a Chicago movement for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), coined "Operation Breadbasket." Jackson lead this Chicago chapter even after King's assassination, leading boycotts and protests in the city in defense of equal economic opportunities until 1971 when he formed PUSH and later the Rainbow Coalition. He then went on to run for president twice.

Chicagoremained a home basefor Jackson amid his local and national activist career, and was a site of multiple efforts spearheaded by the activist who sought tocall out corporationsand governments for diversity failures.

Photos:See memorable Jesse Jackson moments

Chicago residents are already pouring in to express grief for Jackson and support his family. Flowers, notes and other tributes at appeared at the coalition's headquarters, while mourners across the country also express their support for Jackson and his family.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What we know about Jesse Jackson's funeral services, observances

LONDON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - British police are assessing whether Jeffrey Epstein trafficked women through two London airports and one in central England on private flights, as ‌part of a now nationally coordinated effort to investigate the late sex offender's ties to Britain.

Three regional ‌police forces said on Wednesday they were reviewing information about private flights linked to Epstein following the publication by the U.S. government of ​millions of documents on the disgraced financier at the end of January.

Essex Police said it was looking at flights in and out of Stansted Airport, northeast of London, while Bedfordshire Police said it was assessing flights in and out of Luton Airport, northwest of the capital.

West Midlands Police said it was also assessing evidence connected to Epstein from ‌Birmingham Airport.

NATIONALLY COORDINATED EFFORTS

The forces' assessments, which ⁠do not constitute a full investigation, follow the establishment of a national coordination group to support individual police forces in examining Epstein's ties to Britain or British people.

"We continue to ⁠work collaboratively to assess the details being made public to allow us to understand any potential impact arising from the millions of documents that have been published," the National Police Chiefs' Council said in a statement.

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The BBC reported last year ​that incomplete ​flight logs and manifests showed that 87 flights linked to ​Epstein had arrived or departed from British ‌airports between the early 1990s and 2018, with unidentified "females" listed among the passengers.

Reuters could not independently verify the BBC's report.

Documents in the Epstein files reviewed by Reuters show multiple references to Stansted, including one that discussed whether a Russian woman with a U.S. visa could switch planes at the airport. The files also include dozens of references to UK visas.

Stansted, Luton and Birmingham airports said in separate statements that private flights were not managed by the ‌terminals they operate, and that Border Force was responsible for ​immigration and customs checks.

Border Force did not respond to a request ​for comment. Under British law, all individuals arriving ​in Britain are subject to thorough checks.

The Epstein furore has already had a major impact ‌in Britain.

Two other police forces are looking into ​Peter Mandelson, the former British ​ambassador to the U.S., and the younger brother of King Charles, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, over allegations of misconduct in public office. The Epstein files suggested both had forwarded confidential government documents to the late U.S. ​financier.

Both men have denied any wrongdoing ‌and said they regret their friendships with Epstein, but they have not responded to specific requests ​for comment after the latest files were published.

(Reporting by Muvija M and Sam Tabahriti; writing by ​Kate Holton; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Jon Boyle)

Tang won't be the lastcollege basketballcoach fired these next several weeks. The hot seat steams fromSyracusetoLSUtoOklahomaand lands in between.

Adrian Autry, Syracuse

Why it's hot:Syracuse is mired in a yearslong nosedive. Never mind the glory days, is it too much to ask the Orange to make theNCAA Tournament? No, it shouldn't be too much to ask. It might be time for Syracuse to break with the Jim Boeheim coaching tree.

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Bracketology:Who is rising in latest March Madness predictions

Jeff Capel, Pittsburgh

Why it's hot:This is Capel's eighth season. He's been to the NCAA Tournament once. This season has been a disaster, including losses to Hofstra and Quinnipiac. If Pitt keeps Capel, take that as a sign it's too poor to pay his buyout. There's no other case for retention.

Jake Diebler, Ohio State

Why it's hot:On one hand, Diebler's buyout would be ade minimishousekeeping cost for a revenue behemoth like Ohio State. On the other hand, the Buckeyes are on the bubble for the Big Dance. If they go dancing, there's probably nothing to see here. If not, stay tuned.

Kim English, Providence

Why it's hot:Providence became an NCAA Tournament regular under Ed Cooley, English's predecessor. With English, the Friars are a Big East doormat. A recent loss to St. John'sincluded a brawl, the latest embarrassing moment in a bad season.

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Steve Forbes, Wake Forest

Why it's hot:Forbes won 25 games in his second season. An affable coach, he's delivered some decent years and good soundbites. Eventually, though, every coach needs an NCAA bid. Forbes, now in Year 6, hasn't gotten Wake Forest there.

Earl Grant, Boston College

Why it's hot: Grant isn't the sole problem at Boston College. This program lost its way almost 15 years ago and hasn't found its way back. But Grant hasn't been the solution, either. This bleak season includes a loss to Central Connecticut. That's the definition of a call to action.

Penny Hardaway, Memphis

Why it's hot:Hardaway is following a good year (he won 29 games last season) with one of his worst. Memphis probably would hesitate before firing one of its own, but Hardaway knows as well as anyone this program has standards. He's not meeting them.

Bobby Hurley, Arizona State

Why it's hot:It's never a good sign when a coach admits he's "failing." Hurley offered that brutal assessment after a loss in January. Well, you said it, coach. Prep the buyout cannon, but hold off on firing after ASU's upset of Texas Tech.

Matt McMahon, LSU

Why it's hot:McMahon was great at Murray State. He's gone splat at LSU. If LSU wants to be an "everything school," it must fix its basketball program. What better time than with a new athletic director, new president and new board of supervisors chairman? Would Will Wade listen to a "strong-ass offer"?

Wes Miller,Cincinnati

Why it's hot:Bob Huggins and Mick Cronin set a high bar for Cincinnati. Miller isn't meeting the standard through five seasons. Cincinnati isn't the type of program that's OK with going 0-for-5 in NCAA bids under the same coach.

Porter Moser, Oklahoma

Why it's hot:Like his SEC counterpart McMahon, Moser thrived at a mid-major but fizzled in the Power Four ranks. A tale as old as peach baskets. Oklahoma endured a nine-game losing streak earlier this winter. That's the foundation for a firing.

Lamont Paris, South Carolina

Why it's hot:Paris has a meaty buyout, and South Carolina football coachShane Beamer will enter this season on the hot seat. How many buyouts do the Gamecocks want to stomach this year? And yet, two straight disaster seasons leave Paris in trouble.

Damon Stoudamire, Georgia Tech

Why it's hot:Within an ACC with a handful of bad teams, Georgia Tech might be the worst.The decision here will be a test of how badly (and how quickly) first-year Georgia Tech athletic director Ryan Alpert wants to address this program.

Blake Toppmeyeris a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him atBToppmeyer@gannett.comand follow him on X@btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:College basketball coach hot seat includes Penny Hardaway, Porter Moser

This projectbegan in 2023at FOX Sports and has continued the past two seasons here at Yahoo. It's truly a highlight of our offseason, and we're amped for this year's edition, which provides a thorough assessment of each organization's young talent entering the 2026 season.

Top prospect lists and farm system rankings are useful proxies for forecasting a big-league team's outlook, but those come with notable limitations. Our process expands the scope of evaluation beyond the minor leagues in hopes of painting a broader, more comprehensive picture that includes young hitters and young pitchers already in the majors.

Prospects are prospects for a reason; their value is rooted in projection, not MLB output. By evaluating all players aged 26 and younger, our methodology rewards teams with more proven commodities — players who have actually performed in the majors. Minor leaguers and 2026 rookies are still pivotal parts of the equation, but we believe that placing a stronger emphasis on established major leaguers allows for a more accurate portrayal of teams' young talent bases.

Of course, young talent is merely one component of what wins at the major-league level. The mega-moneyed Los Angeles Dodgers have surged to consecutive World Series titles without significant contributions from 26-and-under talent. They plan to do the same in 2026, and the Dodgers aren't alone in this regard. Having veteran star power is paramount to success. Clubs with higher payrolls also tend to have larger margins for error when building their rosters than those that rely heavily on young players.

But one of the keys to sustained success is accounting for older players' inevitable declines and backfilling those voids with steady waves of homegrown talent. If youngsters thrive upon reaching the bigs, a team can keep its competitive window propped open. As such, this project seeks to capture which clubs have a wealth of players whose best years are either in progress or still in front of them.

Our rankings are the product of a scoring system that assigns each organization a grade in four categories, with higher scores available for the major-league categories:

• Young MLB hitters: scored 0-10; 26-and-under position players and rookie-eligible hitters projected to be on Opening Day rosters

• Young MLB pitchers: scored 0-10; 26-and-under pitchers and rookie-eligible pitchers projected to be on Opening Day rosters

• Prospect hitters: scored 0-5; prospect-eligible position players projected to reach MLB in the next 1-2 years

• Prospect pitchers: scored 0-5; prospect-eligible pitchers projected to reach MLB in the next 1-2 years

Within the prospect categories, our scoring favors teams with players who can be reasonably expected to reach the majors in the near future. The vast majority of prospects included in this project have already reached Double-A, though we made occasional exceptions for elite prospects who could rocket up the ranks in a hurry. Another important note: If a prospect-eligible player is expected to be on a team's Opening Day roster — Nolan McLean, for example — we evaluated them as part of the team's young MLB group rather than with their prospect peers.

All players included as part of these rankings are entering their age-26 seasons or younger, defined by Baseball-Reference as a player's age on June 30, roughly halfway through the regular season. This line of demarcation is particularly relevant in this year's edition of our rankings because of which players "graduated" from eligibility this season — i.e., those who played their age-26 seasons in 2025. That group includes three of the best hitters (Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) and three of the best pitchers (Garrett Crochet, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Hunter Brown) in the world. That's a staggering amount of impact talent to no longer be included in their respective teams' young cores, and nearly all of those teams dropped substantially in the rankings as a result.

If you want to read more about our methodology, check outlast year's rankings for a deeper explanation.

We're counting down all 30 organizations' 26-and-under talent bases from weakest to strongest, diving into five teams at a time. Below, in addition to the scores for each team in each category, we'll highlight the key players who fall into each bucket and contributed most to their organization's place in the rankings.

Let's begin at the bottom of the list.

30. Colorado Rockies (total score: 9/30) | 2025 rank: 29

Young MLB hitters (4/10):C Hunter Goodman, SS Ezequiel Tovar, OF Jordan Beck, 2B Adael Amador, INF Ryan RitterYoung MLB pitchers (3/10):RHP Chase Dollander, RHP Victor Vodnik, RHP Seth Halvorsen, RHP Juan Mejia, RHP RJ PetitProspect hitters (1/5):1B Charlie Condon, OF Cole Carrigg, OF Zac Veen, OF Jared Thomas, 2B Roc Riggio, SS Ethan HollidayProspect pitchers (1/5):LHP Carson Palmquist, RHP McCade Brown, RHP Brody Brecht, LHP Welinton Herrera, LHP Sean Sullivan

The Rockies ranked dead last in the first two editions of our 26-and-under rankings but managed to avoid the absolute basement a year ago, thanks to some modest gains among the big-league position players and what looked to be a roughly average farm system. But 119 losses later, Colorado is right back at the bottom, as some mildly encouraging progress on the mound in the majors was offset by stagnation on offense and not nearly enough growth among the top prospects. It's worth noting that Colorado accumulated the same total score as division peers San Francisco and San Diego, but it's tough to give the tiebreaker to a team coming off such an abysmal season. As a result, the Rockies are No. 30 once more.

Nevertheless, there are a handful of hitters and pitchers to like here.Hunter Goodmanwas Colorado's All-Star representative last summer, and deservingly so. Catchers with his level of power are rare, and his juice proved potent away from altitude as well: Goodman hit 18 of his 31 homers away from Coors Field, with a solid .801 road OPS to boot. His defense behind the plate needs some polishing, and his shaky plate discipline could yield some lean years with the bat, but he's a hitter to feel good about.Ezequiel Tovar's lack of on-base skills might always limit his offensive ceiling, but his plus glove at shortstop ensures a steady floor as an every-day player.

Even by Coors Field standards, right-handerChase Dollanderwas pummeled to an extreme degree at home as a rookie: He posted a 9.98 ERA in 46 home innings compared to a 3.46 mark in 52 road frames. But his success away from altitude is a reminder that the 24-year-old checks all the boxes from a scouting perspective in terms of what a frontline starter should look and throw like, and he's still capable of achieving his potentialwith the right tweaks. Colorado has also quietly produced a trio of quality, hard-throwing, righty relievers inSeth Halvorsen, Juan MejiaandVictor Vodnik. It's possible none of them will ever pitch in high-leverage for a good Rockies team, but they could soon be highly attractive trade chips.

There are some useful pieces lurking in the upper levels of the minors on both sides of the ball, none of them more important than Colorado's two most recent first-round draft picks,Charlie CondonandEthan Holliday. Having reached Double-A and played in the Arizona Fall League, Condon's progress is a much more pressing concern than that of the teenage Holliday, but both must answer serious questions from evaluators about whether their suspect hit tools will allow for their tremendous raw power to play in games.

No matter what these young players have or have not demonstrated thus far, there's a renewed sense of optimism about their developmentfollowing the complete (and long overdue) overhaul of Colorado's front office. That the Rockies finally sought external front office candidates after decades of insulation was refreshing, and now Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes are tasked with ushering the franchise into a new era of modern competence and competitiveness. The organization's wave of coaching hires at both the major- and minor-league levels earned strong reviews from around the league. The 2026 Rockies are still going to lose a whole bunch of ballgames, but there's reason to believe they could move into a much less discouraging spot in these rankings by next year.— J.S.

29. San Diego Padres (total score: 9/30) | 2025 rank: 15

Young MLB hitters (5/10):OF Jackson MerrillYoung MLB pitchers (2/10):RHP David Morgan, RHP Bradgley RodriguezProspect hitters (1/5):C Ethan Salas, OF Tirso OrnelasProspect pitchers (1/5):RHP Miguel Mendez, LHP Kash Mayfield, RHP Garrett Hawkins, RHP Tucker Musgrove, LHP Kruz Schoolcraft

With Fernando Tatis Jr. and impact relievers Jeremiah Estrada and Adrian Morejon aging out of eligibility — and another round of win-now trades last July thinning out the farm system — the Padres have unsurprisingly plummeted in the rankings and were in consideration for the bottom spot. They're saved from bringing up the rear by the presence ofJackson Merrill,who is comfortably the best position player on any of the teams in this tier, giving San Diego a tremendously valuable offensive pillar to build around.

Merrill surged to stardom in 2024while playing a brand-new position in center field and raking for the playoff-bound Padres as a 21-year-old, ultimately finishing runner-up to Paul Skenes in the NL Rookie of the Year race. Further ascension seemed in store for Merrill as a sophomore, but injuries (hamstring, ankle, concussion) waylaid his second season. He was still productive, just not quite the game-changing talent he was as a rookie. 2026 will be a big opportunity for Merrill to reassert himself as one of the brightest young stars in baseball.

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Beyond Merrill, however, this group thins out in a hurry. Like Colorado, San Diego boasts some exciting young relievers, with bothDavid MorganandBradgley Rodriguezdebuting last year in a bullpen already loaded with high-quality, high-leverage arms.Garrett HawkinsandTucker Musgrovemight not be far behind. But as far as young rotation candidates go, there's very little to be found outside ofMiguel Mendez,who has promise but finished last season with an 8.06 ERA across six starts in Double-A. It's no accident the Padres just signed German Marquez, Griffin Canning and Walker Buehler in a matter of days. The most promising mound talent in the system is found at the lower levels, headlined by the team's two most recent first-round picks, teenage left-handersKash MayfieldandKruz Schoolcraft.

Somehow still only 19 years old,Ethan Salashas been on the prospect radar for a while now. A nearly unprecedented and ultra-accelerated promotion pace pushed the catcher all the way to Double-A as a 17-year-old, but back injuries and struggles at the plate have stalled his development. His top-tier defense remains his calling card, and we should always be patient with catching prospects, but at some point, Salas will need to start hitting to still be considered a viable candidate to be a franchise backstop.— J.S.

28. San Francisco Giants (total score: 9/30) | 2025 rank: 24

Young MLB hitters (3/10):OF Heliot Ramos, OF Drew Gilbert, 1B/DH Bryce Eldridge, OF Luis Matos, OF Grant McCray, C Daniel SusacYoung MLB pitchers (1/10):RHP Hayden Birdsong, RHP Randy RodriguezProspect hitters (2/5):OF Bo Davidson, OF Dakota Jordan, 1B/OF Parks Harber, 2B Gavin Kilen, SS Josuar Gonzalez, 2B Nate FurmanProspect pitchers (3/5):LHP Carson Whisenhunt, RHP Blade Tidwell, RHP Will Bednar, RHP Trevor McDonald, LHP Joe Whitman, LHP Jacob Bresnahan

What are the Buster Posey-run Giants good at? (Besides acquiring Rafael Devers, which, unfortunately, is not a repeatable skill.) So far, the answer is unclear, though the dearth of talent in this organization is mostly a problem that predates Posey's tenure. This will be a big year for him and the organization.

Let's start withBryce Eldridge,upon whose shoulders much of San Francisco's future rests. Built like an NBA wing, the 21-year-old first baseman debuted in September and looked overmatched in a small sample. But that burnt cup of coffee doesn't change Eldrige's projection. This guy has deafening raw power, top-of-the-charts stuff in the Joey Gallo mold and more bat-to-ball feel than your typical long-ball donkey. Still, dudes built like Eldridge — limbs for days, fresh out of the "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" stretch machine — often struggle with elevated fastballs. If he makes enough contact, Eldridge will be an All-Star. Barry Bonds' splash hit record (35) is definitely in play. But as with all first baseman, the bar is incredibly high.

Beyond that, it's an underwhelming bunch.Heliot Ramoswas an All-Star in 2024, but he has proven himself to be a dreadful defender in left and merely average with the stick. That's not a cornerstone piece on a championship team.Drew Gilbertis a maniac andgreat TikTok fodder, but a lack of juice has him on the fourth-outfielder track.Daniel Susacmight be a capable backup catcher.

Things aren't much better on the bump, as the Giants were one of just three teams to receive a measly one out of 10 for their young MLB pitchers.Randy Rodriguezwas an All-Star last season, surrendering just four earned runs across the entire first half (!!), but he blew out in August and will miss the entire 2026 season. He's also a reliever and, thus, more volatile than a meme coin.Hayden Birdsonghad a 2.31 ERA out of the 'pen last season (good) and a 6.17 ERA out of the rotation (not good), so it's doubtful he'll evolve into an impact starter.

There are, however, some encouraging signs down on the farm, mostly in the lower levels.Josuar Gonzalezis only 18 years old and has yet to play stateside baseball, but he might just be The Next Great Dominican Shortstop. A year from now, he could easily be a top-10 prospect in all of the minors.Bo Davidson,an undrafted center fielder from a North Carolina community college, is an amazing story, but he hasn't yet proved he can hit upper-minors arms. Second basemanGavin Kilenwas the 13th pick last year, and he should move relatively quickly as a high-floor, low-ceiling, Joe Panik type.

On the pitching side, not a single Giants farmhand was ranked in the top 100 by any of the major outlets, but there's some solid depth here.Carson Whisenhunt'sunicorn changeup will propel him to an impact role of some sort, but it's most likely in the bullpen.Trevor McDonald,BladeTidwellandJoe Whitmanare back-end types.WillBednaris a reliever.Jacob Bresnahanis an arrow-up starter to get excited about, but the 20-year-old hasn't yet pitched above low-A.

On the whole, it's hard to believe there's enough talent here to supplement San Francisco's current core of Devers, Willy Adames, Matt Chapman and Logan Webb. For the Giants to even think about chasing down the Dodgers in the next few years, Eldridge needs to be an absolute monster. But even that might not be enough, particularly if Posey and Co. don't uncover an impact arm or two.— J.M.

27. Houston Astros (total score: 10/30) | 2025 rank: 21

Young MLB hitters (2/10):OF Zach Cole, OF Cam Smith, OF Zach DezenzoYoung MLB pitchers (4/10):RHP Mike Burrows, RHP Spencer Arrighetti, Roddery MuñozProspect hitters (2/5):OF Brice Matthews, OF Joseph Sullivan, C Walker Janek, OF Lucas Spence, OF Ethan FreyProspect pitchers (2/5):RHP Miguel Ullola, RHP AJ Blubaugh, RHP Ethan Pecko, RHP Bryce Mayer

For the Astros, 2025 was the end of an era. For the first time since 2016, Houston spent October at home, on vacation or caring too much about the Texans. Injuries damned the team all season, but the organization's inability to fill the gaps with homegrown players was a major factor in Houston's late-season collapse.

Is the Jose Altuve-Yordan Alvarez-Carlos Correa Era truly over? That depends, a great deal, on the fortunes ofCam Smith.Acquired in the Kyle Tucker blockbuster last winter, Smith wowed his way through spring trainingand onto the Opening Day roster, despite being less than a year removed from draft day. Mauricio Dubón, with a straight face, referred to him as "a 60-homer guy." And through three months, the hulking slugger held his own, finishing June with a .776 OPS and better outfield defense than expected. Then the wheels fell off, with Smith going 38-for-202 in the second half, with just two homers. By mid-September, he was starting only a few games a week.

Getting Smith back on track will be crucial to Houston's chances in 2026 and beyond. Hopefully, his aggressive assignment last spring didn't stunt his development, and he starts pulling the ball in the air more often to take advantage of his big power. It's hard to blame him too much for his rough second half, considering that 2025 was the longest season of his life by a wide margin. We still like Smith — but more as a regular than the perennial All-Star he was being billed as a year ago.

Zach Coleis a very fun, very out-of-nowhere, late bloomer who might get a chance at a regular role if the Astros don't add an outfielder before Opening Day. A 10th-round pick out of Ball State in 2022, he climbed his way up the minor-league ladder before breaking out with a massive 2025 in which he OPSed .917 and earned himself an MLB call-up. Cole has a long swing and might punch out too much to profile as an every-day dude, but there's real bat speed and real juice here.

On the mound,Mike Burrows,acquired from Pittsburgh over the winter, andSpencer Arrighetti, who missed a lot of 2025 due to injuries, kept Houston out of the cellar. Both guys project as mid-rotation arms, which is rarer than you'd expect for 26-and-unders.

This farm, unfortunately, is in very dire straits. The Astros were the only organization to not have a single prospect rank in the top 100 of any major prospect publications. That's hard to do and a chilling reminder that Houston's farm is squarely bottom-three. Trading away Jacob Melton and Anderson Brito for Burrows was a reasonable use of prospect capital, but the lack of reinforcements in the upper minors is striking. We likeBrice Matthews,but it's hard to see him getting playing time at second base, barring an Altuve injury.

It's worth noting that the upcoming draft will be absolutely crucial for the Astros. Thanks to Hunter Brown finishing top-three in Cy Young and Framber Valdez leaving in free agency, Houston has four picks in the top 93 and its largest draft bonus pool in years. That presents a rare opportunity to replenish the system, one that Houston's leadership group must take full advantage of. Otherwise, the next half-decade could be pretty bleak at Daikin Park.— J.M.

26. Philadelphia Phillies (total score: 10/30) | 2025 rank: 30

Young MLB hitters (2/10):INF/OF Otto Kemp, OF Justin Crawford, OF Johan RojasYoung MLB pitchers (2/10):RHP Orion Kerkering, RHP Andrew PainterProspect hitters (4/5):SS Aidan Miller, OF Gabriel Rincones Jr., 2B Aroon Escobar, 1B Keaton Anthony, OF Dylan CampbellProspect pitchers (2/5):RHP Moises Chace, RHP Gage Wood, RHP Jean Cabrera, RHP Alex McFarlane

The 2025 Phillies were, by many measures, the oldest team in MLB. No other club had a lineup and a pitching staff with an average age of 30 or older. This winter, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has received a barrage of criticism for opting to "run it back." But the 2026 Phillies, for better or worse, should be much younger than the previous model.

That's mostly due toAndrew PainterandJustin Crawford, a pair of yet-to-debut 22-year-olds projected to make the big-league club out of spring training.Painterhas long been considered one of the sport's top pitching prospects, but two seasons lost to Tommy John and a statistically underwhelming 2025 have lessened his sheen. Still, the Phillies clearly believe in him; the club didn't replace Ranger Suárez this winter, clearing the way for Painter to earn a rotation spot. They're hoping a normal offseason will help him rediscover his old arm slot — it dropped over the course of 2025 — and establish himself as a rotation stalwart.

Crawford, the son of longtime big-league outfielder Carl Crawford, is one of the game's most unique prospects. In the box, he's a groundball machine, a true danger to both bugs and blades of grass. But this is no slap hitter; Crawford's exit velocities are genuinely good. It's just … usually … the ball is earthbound after contact. If he were a no-doubt elite center fielder, his odd offensive profile would be less concerning, but Crawford, despite plus-plus speed, is closer to solid than great out in the grass. He's going to start in center on Opening Day for the Phillies and will surely take some lumps in his rookie season, but he could develop into an All-Star-level player if he learns how to lift the baseball.

The other big-league youngsters are supplementary types.Orion Kerkering,his unfortunate October yeet for the ages aside, is a dependable, controllable, back-end reliever.OttoKempwill get regular playing time against southpaws and could emerge as a legitimate weak-side platoon option.JohanRojasprobably missed his window in Philadelphia; the glovesmith got a chance to play every day for stretches of 2023, '24 and '25 but never progressed as a hitter.

The last character to focus on isAidan Miller,a consensus top-15 prospect. His power-speed combo is very rare for a shortstop, even though many evaluators have him pegged as a below-average option at the position. Despite being young for the level, the 21-year-old popped 13 homers and swiped 52 bags in Double-A last year. Miller is an advanced hitter for his age, though his pull-heavy approach — his 50.5% pull rate last year would've placed him seventh among qualified MLBers — leaves him susceptible to breaking balls away from him. Still, this is, at worst, a big-league regular who should debut at some point this season and eventually supplant Alec Bohm as the Phillies' every-day third baseman.— J.M.

Luke Skaljac added 16 points for Miami (26-0, 13-0 MAC), which is the only undefeated team in Division I.

The RedHawks also received a 13-point performance from Almar Atlason and 11 points from Eian Elmer.

Miami made 26 of its 52 field goal attempts. The RedHawks have shot 50.0% or better from the field in 20 of their 26 games.

Isaiah Placide scored a career-high 19 points for UMass (15-12, 6-8 MAC). Placide made 5 of 7 3-point attempts.

Leonardo Bettiol added 18 points and nine rebounds for UMass, but he fouled out with 2:58 to play. Bettiol was called for four fouls in the second half. Danny Carbuccia had 15 points and six assists and Marcus Banks scored 11 for the Minutemen, who suffered their third straight loss.

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Miami entered the contest leading the MAC in scoring (92.6), field goal percentage (53.6%) and 3-point field goal percentage (40.1%). The RedHawks made 10 of their 23 3-point attempts.

UMass was within two following a Placide free throw with 2:14 left in the first half, but Miami had a 41-36 halftime lead. The RedHawks never trailed in the half, and led by as many as nine. Placide had 13 points in the half, including four 3-pointers.

UMass had its first lead after a Placide layup put the Minutemen up 62-60 with 9:24 to play, but a three-point play by Suder gave Miami a 76-70 lead with 4:59 remaining.

From there, the RedHawks salted it away from the foul line and led 85-75 with 1:20 left.

Tuesday's game was the second time the RedHawks and Minutemen have met this season. Miami pulled out an 86-84 home victory Jan. 27.

--Field Level Media

Russia Cuba

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and was set to meet later in the day with President Vladimir Putin.

Lavrov urged the U.S. to refrain from blockading Cuba, which has struggled to import oil for its power plants and refineries after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened any nation that sold oil to Cubawith tariffs.

"Together with most members of the global community, we are calling on the U.S. to show common sense, take a responsible approach and refrain from its plans of sea blockade," Lavrov said during the talks with Rodriguez.

He promised that Moscow will "continue supporting Cuba and its people in protecting the country's sovereignty and security."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also noted that "Russia, like many other countries, has consistently spoken against the blockade of the island."

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"We have our relations with Cuba, and we value these relations very much," Peskov told reporters. "And we intend to further develop them — of course, during difficult times, by providing appropriate assistance to our friends."

Asked whether sending fuel to Cuba could deraila recent warming of tieswith Washington, Peskov responded that "we don't think these issues are linked."

Putin has praised Trump's efforts to mediate an end to the conflict in Ukraine, and Moscow and Washington have discussed ways to revive their economic ties.

Venezuela, one of Cuba's main oil suppliers, stopped selling crude to the island in January after theU.S. captured then-President Nicolás Maduroin a pre-dawn raid and flew him to New York to face drug trafficking charges.

Mexico alsocut off oil shipments to Cubain January, after Trump issued the tariff threat.

Russia's Izvestia news outlet last week cited the Russian embassy in Havana as saying that Moscow was preparing to send humanitarian fuel shipment to Havana in the near future. On Monday, Russian ambassador to Cuba, Viktor Koronelli, said that Moscow was looking into details of organizing assistance to Cuba but offered no specifics.

Cuba's fuel shortages already have forced Russian tourist companies to halt the sales of package tours to the island after the Cuban government said that itwill not provide fuel to planes that landon the island.