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From the moment they reacquired him from the Boston Red Sox a few weeks before spring training, the Brewers have raved about David Hamilton’s athleticism. “From an ability standpoint and his work, I couldn't ask for anything more to work with,” third base and infield coach Matt Erickson said. “I think he’s a part of this for a while.” Compared to the headline return of left-handers Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan, Hamilton may have looked like a throw-in piece in that Boston trade—a part-time player who could replace Andruw Monasterio in a utility role. The Brewers see him as anything but an afterthought. He’s appeared in 34 of the team’s 41 games, has taken the seventh-most plate appearances despite hitting near the bottom of the order, and has recently taken much of Joey Ortiz’s playing time at shortstop against right-handed pitchers. Hamilton’s track record as a 28-year-old doesn’t point to much upside. In 668 career plate appearances, he’s hit for a 76 wRC+, 80 DRC+, and .272 xwOBA, meaning both his results and process in the box have been extremely poor. But the Brewers see a player who can move quickly and explosively. Hamilton’s average sprint speed of 29.2 feet per second ranks in the 95th percentile of runners this year. That athleticism, they believe, gives him the potential to be an elite defender at any position and hit for more pop than he’s shown so far. “He's not even scratching the surface of what he's capable of,” Murphy said, “but there are some big, big adjustments he needs to make to be the player we think he can be. And I'm sure the Red Sox saw the same thing.” So far, the Brewers have not gotten much more out of Hamilton than the Red Sox. In 118 plate appearances this year, he owns a 75 wRC+, 86 DRC+, and .269 xwOBA. Each of those numbers nearly matches what he did in Boston. Baseball Prospectus has credited him with 0 Deserved Runs Prevented at both third base and shortstop, meaning he’s been an average defender instead of a plus one. There have been two noticeable changes to Hamilton’s offense this year: he’s walking 11% of the time, and he’s leveraging his speed by bunting, leading baseball with eight bunt hits. That approach has gotten him on base more often, but it’s tanked any semblance of power in his game. Hamilton’s .327 on-base percentage is easily a career high, but he has just one extra-base hit. That walk rate might not hold up, either, as he expands the zone much more than the average hitter with two strikes. Shrinking the field with bunts and making speed his defining attribute won’t help Hamilton unlock his upside. If anything, it discourages a breakthrough. The Brewers aren’t trying to pigeonhole him into playing that style of offense, Murphy said, but for him to be a helpful piece right now, he needs to reach base with walks and singles on the ground. “If he gets to first, wow, he's dangerous,” Murphy said, alluding to Hamilton’s base-stealing ability. “So we're trying to build it from there. The swing part, the amount of impact he can have, he's got some in there. He's got some bat speed, and his hands work. He can handle different pitches. He can hit the ball hard. But that's a process, though.” Behind the scenes, the Brewers are trying to make Hamilton’s swing—most specifically, how he rotates his torso—more nuanced. He’s always been a pull-happy hitter who has hit the ball hardest when it leaks back over the middle or is low and inside. Pitchers have countered that by pitching him away, where he often fails to stay on the ball. Because of his inclination to open up and pull the inside pitch, nearly all of Hamilton’s hard-hit fly balls this year have occurred on pitches around that low-and-in pocket. The problem is that he’s doing that same thing on most pitches, regardless of location. In both clips below, you can see Hamilton’s front side fly open as he swings. On the middle-in fastball, he rips a hard fly ball to center field. On the middle-away sinker, he rolls over to second base. hamilton_swings.mp4 If you freeze the video just as he’s about to make contact, his chest is similarly open toward right field on both swings, even though they’re on opposite sides of the plate. Hamilton keeps his eye on the ball and adjusts his swing path to make contact with both pitches, but he’s not in a position to work through the pitch away because his chest is already rotating toward right field. “Your direction is here,” Murphy said, gesturing toward a hypothetical right field before pointing in the opposite direction, “and that pitch is coming from here. You’re going to pull off it. You’re going to hit around it. You’re going to smother it, when it’s closer to him. So having him understand how to get on the ball line is a really tough process.” That process has yet to bear fruit. The results have been more mixed for Hamilton’s continued work with Erickson on the left side of the infield, where he has misplayed a handful of routine opportunities. Ortiz got off to a similarly unremarkable start as a full-time shortstop last year, and it took him months to develop a more explosive first step alongside his fluid hands and body control. Hamilton is the opposite: his first step and range are elite, but he struggles with controlling that explosiveness. According to Baseball Prospectus’s Attempt Range metric, he has fielded two more balls than the average shortstop would reach, but he has completed plays at a slightly below-average rate. “His metrics are unbelievable, but controlling the baseball, throwing accurately, redirecting the ball, tags, all that stuff, he's got a ways to go,” Murphy said. “But his movement and the ground he can cover, those metrics are unbelievable.” On some occasions, Erickson said, Hamilton has been so eager to complete a play that he’s taken his eye off the ball prematurely. It caused him to miss a catch on an attempted double play turn against the Pittsburgh Pirates last month. hamilton_field_error.mp4 Other times, Hamilton has gotten stuck in his fielding position after a grounder enters his glove, prompting him to urgently fire an errant throw to make up for that lost time. That also happened multiple times in that Pittsburgh series. hamilton_throws.mp4 In each instance, Hamilton struggled with the start-and-stop rhythm of completing certain plays. At times, his raw athleticism has outpaced his tempo on the infield. “I think that's something with all infielders in general, and especially ones that are super explosive and twitchy, not to play the game too fast,” Erickson said. “You want to break down and slow down for the catch, and then kind of keep that same rhythm through the catch and through the exchange and into your throw. And I think the guys that do that are the most consistent throwers with accuracy.” After still grading as a negative defender at shortstop a few weeks ago, Hamilton’s metrics have trended positively since the calendar flipped to May. There’s still work to be done (Erickson wants to see a more consistent arm action across throws), but he’s looked more comfortable lately. “He's a versatile piece, because he can play all three infield spots, and he can play them all very well,” Erickson said. “Now we’ve just got to get him to be consistent as much as possible.” Even if the Brewers remain bullish on his ceiling, the reality is that Hamilton has not progressed enough overall as the club nears a decision point on the left side of the infield. Milwaukee shortstops have combined for a 49 wRC+ so far this year, and prospects Cooper Pratt and Jett Williams have started adapting to Triple-A pitching within the last two weeks. Ortiz is more likely to lose his roster spot to one of those two, but their arrival would push Hamilton into more of a part-time role. For now, he’ll remain in the lineup against most right-handed pitchers as the Brewers keep trying to tap into his skill set. “This is a super valuable kid, but it's got to come together,” Murphy said. “He’s got to understand exactly who he is and what he can become, and understand what adjustments he needs to make and how to do it.” View the full article

After missing a week due to technical difficulties, Nick is back with talk about the 2025 draft class. While Anthony Eyanson, Marcus Phillips, and Kyson Witherspoon have gotten most of the attention, other members of the draft class are also having good seasons. Guys like Ethan Walker, Dylan Brown, and Jason Gilman are putting up numbers that should have people watching them as well. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-talk-sox-podcast/id1783204104 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qPrPXEngu0CxgTmlf0ynm Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-talk-sox-podcast-244591331/ Listen on Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/4tmd121v Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talksox View the full article

The San Diego Padres have largely continued to win baseball games despite an offense that has slowly worked its way from below average to more of a middling nature. While they continue to wait on the likes of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill to become regular contributors to the cause, it’s been an unlikely source spearheading the runs they are able to score: Xander Bogaerts. Bogaerts hasn’t been entirely lost on offense during his time with the Padres, but there have certainly been stretches where it looked as if the organization would regret his 11-year deal far too early into it. He’s done his best to stave off those concerns in 2026, however, working at a pace that has him to set to exceed his prior production just about everywhere if he’s able to maintain it. Through more than 160 plate appearances thus far, Bogaerts carries a line that reads .262/.337/.423 with a 121 wRC+. His 16.9 percent strikeout rate sits up in the 78th percentile with a walk rate that rests nicely at 10.2 percent. The former is down slightly and the latter is up more significantly from his trends since arriving in San Diego prior to 2023. Most notable within his performance, though, is the power. Bogaerts has a .161 isolated power figure to this point. That’s not a gaudy number relative to the league’s genuine sluggers, but he previously topped out for the Padres back in that initial 2023 campaign with a .154 ISO. The two subsequent years featured marks of .117 and .128, respectively. He compensated well in those two middle years with his baserunning acumen, but the absence of any real impact stifled his ability to contribute regularly to an offensive attack to which his place in the payroll indicates he should be central. Nevertheless, there’s a contribution happening here that wasn’t before. With a player experiencing even a modest upswing in power after an extended sample without it, the sustainability question generally harkens to mechanics and approach as preeminent sources of the increase. And what’s interesting in this case is that Bogaerts isn’t doing anything demonstrably different within his swing that is indicative of an uptick in power. He’s actually swinging the bat slower, with an attack angle, attack direction, and tilt that have all remained fairly similar to every other season on which we have data. The mechanics of the swing have remained just about constant. As for the approach, Bogaerts has remained fairly steady there, too. He’s become a touch more aggressive overall, raising his swing rate from 41.7 percent last year to 44.3 percent thus far in 2026. He’s also managed to make slightly more contact, so there’s a higher volume of balls in play. That tends to help the overall line, especially when the contact is happening to all fields (Bogaerts has driven his Oppo% up by nearly six percent). He’s also swinging at more fastballs (also by about six percent), which can help to yield the type of all-fields contact helping Bogaerts to maintain his production to date. But there isn’t anything particularly noteworthy within this area of his game either. What it may, in fact, come down to is rather simple: he’s healthy. In each of Bogaerts’ first three seasons with the Padres, he has dealt with an injury of some sort. He battled a lingering wrist injury and a calf issue in 2023, a shoulder injury in 2024, and a myriad of problems in 2025 that included his shoulder, hamstring, and foot. Only the 2024 injury cost him legitimate time as he appeared in just 111 games. The rest, however, were of the lingering variety which certainly tamped down his production across even games in which he was still playing. Which means that there’s a decent shot that Bogaerts is the same player he’s always been in matters of his mechanics and his approach. We know the talent has always been there. Perhaps something in the underlying data will manifest as the sample grows and provides us with another rationale. In the meantime, a healthy Xander Bogaerts is not only an improved player for the Padres in 2026, but an absolutely crucial one given the slow start of some of his counterparts. View the full article

The Brooklyn Cyclones blanked Rome behind a sterling effort from Channing Austin, who allowed three hits across five scoreless innings while Daiverson Gutierrez crossed home three times. Chris Suero homered for Binghamton in a tough 5-3 loss, and Elian Peña tripled in St. Lucie's 4-2 setback to Jupiter. Jonah Tong absorbed his third loss as Syracuse fell 11-3 to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, surrendering six earned runs in only one and two-thirds innings of work. Mets Transactions New York Mets signed free agent SS Jaylen Palmer to a minor league contract. Tong Roughed Up As Syracuse Falls In Scranton Syracuse dropped its game against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 11-3. Starter Jonah Tong was tagged for six earned runs on five hits in one and two-thirds innings, walking three and striking out three. Tong gave up two home runs, both during a five-run bottom of the second that opened a 7-1 gap. Reliever Carlos Guzman did not stop the bleeding, allowing four earned runs on four hits in his one and two-thirds innings, including three home runs in a four-run bottom of the fourth that pushed the score to 11-1. The Syracuse offense managed three hits and pushed across single runs in the second, fifth, and sixth. Ben Rortvedt accounted for two RBI, including a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Christian Arroyo in the top of the second. Cristian Pache went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk, and Jihwan Bae added a base hit. Yonny Hernández, who later took the mound himself, drew two walks and scored a run, and Jackson Cluff drew a walk and crossed home in the sixth. The bullpen finally settled in. Dan Hammer, Alex Carrillo, Cionel Pérez, and Yonny Hernández combined for four and two-thirds scoreless innings, surrendering five hits and striking out six. Syracuse left seven runners on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Nick Morabito (CF) 3 0 0 0 1 1 Matt Rudick (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 Ji Hwan Bae (2B) 4 0 1 0 0 0 Ryan Clifford (LF) 4 0 0 1 0 3 Christian Arroyo (3B) 4 1 1 0 0 1 Eric Wagaman (1B) 4 0 0 0 0 3 Yonny Hernández (P) 1 1 0 0 2 0 Cristian Pache (RF) 3 0 1 0 1 2 Ben Rortvedt (C) 3 0 0 2 0 1 Jackson Cluff (SS) 2 1 0 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jonah Tong (L) 1 2/3 5 7 6 3 3 2 Carlos Guzman 1 2/3 4 4 4 2 3 3 Dan Hammer 1 2/3 1 0 0 1 2 0 Alex Carrillo 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 Cionel Pérez 1 1 0 0 1 3 0 Yonny Hernández 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Suero Homer Not Enough In Binghamton's 5-3 Loss Binghamton fell 5-3 to the Somerset Patriots. Starter Jonathan Santucci took the loss after five innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts. The Patriots reached him for two runs in the bottom of the first and added another in the bottom of the fourth before the Rumble Ponies tied things up an inning later. With Diego Mosquera aboard after his second walk, Chris Suero crushed his sixth home run of the season to left center, knotting the score 3-3 in the fifth. The lead was short-lived. Somerset answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, and untied the game for good in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run charged to reliever Douglas Orellana. Suero finished the night 2-for-4 with the home run, two RBI, a stolen base, and a run scored. JT Schwartz tripled in the top of the second to plate Nick Lorusso for Binghamton's first run. Lorusso, TT Bowens, and Kevin Parada each added a hit, and Mosquera scored a run while drawing two walks from the nine hole. Player AB R H RBI BB K Eli Serrano III (CF) 4 0 0 0 0 2 Chris Suero (C) 4 1 2 2 0 1 Jose Ramos (RF) 4 0 0 0 0 2 Kevin Parada (DH) 3 0 1 0 1 1 Nick Lorusso (3B) 4 1 1 0 0 2 TT Bowens (LF) 4 0 1 0 0 2 JT Schwartz (1B) 4 0 1 1 0 1 Wyatt Young (2B) 4 0 0 0 0 1 Diego Mosquera (SS) 1 1 0 0 2 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jonathan Santucci (L) 5 6 4 2 1 4 0 Jefry Yan 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 Douglas Orellana 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 Felipe De La Cruz 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 Cyclones Roll To 7-0 Shutout In Rome The Brooklyn Cyclones blanked the Rome Emperors 7-0, riding a five-inning, scoreless start from Channing Austin and a twelve-strikeout team effort on the mound. Austin scattered three hits and three walks while striking out five and earning the win. The bullpen completed the shutout. Gregori Louis worked two scoreless innings with four strikeouts, Hunter Hodges followed with a one-strikeout frame, and Juan Arnaud added a strikeout of his own in the other relief inning. Brooklyn built the score one run at a time before breaking the game open. Mitch Voit drove in the first run with a third-inning groundout that scored Sam Biller, and Colin Houck doubled to center in the fourth to plate Daiverson Gutierrez. Yonatan Henriquez singled home Yohairo Cuevas in the fifth. The sixth inning produced the breathing room. Cuevas walked with the bases loaded to score Gutierrez, and Henriquez followed with another bases-loaded walk that brought home Houck. Brooklyn tacked on two more in the seventh: Trace Willhoite grounded out to score Ronald Hernandez, and Sam Biller's sacrifice fly to left brought Gutierrez home for the seventh and final run. Player AB R H RBI BB K Mitch Voit (SS) 3 0 0 1 2 2 Yonatan Henriquez (3B) 4 0 1 2 1 1 John Bay (LF) 4 0 0 0 1 0 Ronald Hernandez (DH) 5 1 2 0 0 1 Daiverson Gutierrez (C) 2 3 1 0 2 0 Colin Houck (2B) 4 1 1 1 0 2 Trace Willhoite (1B) 4 0 0 1 1 1 Sam Biller (CF) 3 1 1 1 1 1 Yohairo Cuevas (RF) 2 1 0 1 2 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Channing Austin (W) 5 3 0 0 3 5 0 Gregori Louis 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 Juan Arnaud 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Hunter Hodges 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 St. Lucie Drops 4-2 Decision To Jupiter The St. Lucie Mets fell 4-2 to the Jupiter Hammerheads. Starter Frank Camarillo worked four and two-thirds innings, surrendering two earned runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts. In the fifth, Elian Peña tripled to center with one out, and he later came home on a pickoff error at third base during Randy Guzman's strikeout, an unearned run that tied things 1-1. The Mets briefly took the lead an inning later when Julio Zayas singled, advanced to second on a groundout, and scored on Sam Robertson's RBI single to center. The deciding run came in the top of the seventh. Reliever Elwis Mijares allowed an RBI single that pushed Jupiter back in front and was charged with the loss for his two innings of work. Closer Zack Mack walked three in a wild ninth inning, and a throwing error by Peña allowed an additional unearned run to cross. Robertson finished 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, and the RBI. Peña added the triple, a walk, and a run scored. Joe Scarborough turned in one and one-third scoreless relief innings. The Mets managed four hits, struck out ten times, and stranded seven runners. Player AB R H RBI BB K Elian Peña (SS) 2 1 1 0 1 1 JT Benson (LF) 3 0 0 0 1 0 Randy Guzman (1B) 4 0 0 0 0 2 AJ Salgado (RF) 3 0 0 0 1 1 Julio Zayas (DH) 3 1 1 0 1 0 Chase Meggers (C) 3 0 0 0 0 1 Sam Robertson (CF) 3 0 2 1 1 1 Kevin Villavicencio (3B) 4 0 0 0 0 2 Jamari Baylor (2B) 3 0 0 0 1 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Frank Camarillo 4 2/3 5 2 2 3 5 0 Joe Scarborough 1 1/3 4 0 0 0 1 0 Elwis Mijares (L) 2 2 1 1 1 2 0 Zack Mack 1 0 1 0 3 2 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Carson Benge: DNP A.J. Ewing: DNP Jonah Tong: 1 2/3 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 HR (L) Elian Pena: 1-for-2, 3B, R, BB, K Jack Wenninger: DNP Ryan Clifford: 0-for-4, RBI, 3 K Jacob Reimer: DNP Nick Morabito: 0-for-3, BB, K Mitch Voit: 0-for-3, RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, SB Jonathan Santucci: 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 K (L) Chris Suero: 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, HR, K, SB Zach Thornton: DNP Wandy Asigen: DNP Will Watson: DNP Eli Serrano III: 0-for-4, 2 K Randy Guzman: 0-for-4, 2 K Ryan Lambert: DNP Dylan Ross: DNP Antonio Jimenez: DNP R.J. Gordon: DNP View the full article

Arjun Nimmala is one of the most advanced prospects in the Toronto Blue Jays' pipeline. After logging more High-A at-bats than any other player aged 19 or younger in his respective league last year, Nimmala got the promotion to Double-A New Hampshire just a few weeks into the 2026 campaign. What makes his game so advanced, and when will we see him in the big leagues? We break it all down in this video! View the full article

Spencer is joined by Ryan Topp of Milwaukee's Tailgate to discuss the Brewers' sweep over the Yankees, their series win over the Padres, Jacob Misiorowski's dominance, Brice Turang's continued ascension, and a lot more! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brewer-fanatic-podcast/id1740648724 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CY8mWsQayqjDXqw9OT2Td iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-brewer-fanatic-podcast-166534588/ Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ommzz627 Watch On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brewerfanatic View the full article

The Brewers' top prospect, Jesus Made, is now baseball's top prospect. With Konnor Griffin and Kevin McGonigle both graduating to the majors, the 19-year-old phenom out of the Dominican Republic is now the most highly touted prospect in Major League Baseball. In this video, we'll dive into each of his tools and unearth what makes Made so special. View the full article

Samuel Lewiston "Sloot" Von Hansen has been a baseball fan and a math geek his whole life. When he discovered the world of sabermetrics, it intensified both interests and opened up a post-collegiate career in the world of baseball statistics. He was getting paid to do what he loved, and there was no looking back. His opinion on sabermetrics in May 2026? "Meaningless. A dog's breakfast. Mere darts at a board," he said. "A handful of dust blown by an idiot wind." The cause of Von Hansen's loss of faith? Twins starter Bailey Ober. "How can you explain what he's doing," cried the married father of two. "You cannot. The math does not math. He strikes nobody out. His fastball never hits 90. His changeup isn't even a changeup, it's just 5 mph slower than his fastball, which, as I have already said and will say again, isn't fast." The final straw for Von Hansen was Ober's Tuesday night outing, a masterful "Maddux" (a complete game shutout with less than 100 pitches thrown, named after Hall of Famer Greg Maddux) versus the Miami Marlins. "The Minnesota Twins defense, outside of Byron Buxton, has never met a ball in play that they didn't want to turn into a meal," shouted a red-faced Von Hansen, growing louder by the second. "All Ober does is put balls in play because he can't strike anyone out. Is no one else watching this happen? How can we abide this? Agahghaehage [sic]!" Von Hansen said he tried to calculate the probability of Ober's Tuesday stat line on his laptop after the game, using Ober's velo, BABIP, and team defense metrics. The result, he said, broke him irreparably. "The machine wouldn't provide an answer," said Von Hansen. "Instead, it made a sound akin to a wave hitting a pier. The screen went to blue and the air smelled of ozone. A message appeared. It read: ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS EXCEPT EUROPA ATTEMPT NO LANDING THERE USE THEM TOGETHER USE THEM IN PEACE "Then it melted." Von Hansen said he has abandoned sabermetrics, math, baseball, reason itself, and his family. "I flew to Belgium last night and am driving to a remote monastery as I speak. I have renounced all my worldly possessions. I will sleep on the ground and help them make bread and vinegar. Nothing matters, you see? Do you see?" Von Hansen broke down in tears and said he was throwing his phone out the window into a nearby pond. The line went dead. Ober sits at 4-2 for the season with a 3.46 ERA. His next start is slated to be against Milwaukee this Sunday. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins always knew Connor Prielipp’s arm came with risk. That was part of the profile long before he reached the big leagues. A former first-round talent who underwent Tommy John surgery twice before establishing himself professionally, Prielipp’s path has never resembled that of a typical starting pitching prospect. Now the Twins are asking him to do something he has literally never done before: Pitch every fifth day (or so) against major-league hitters, while carrying a workload that continues to climb into unfamiliar territory. Last Friday night against Cleveland showed both the challenge and the upside. Prielipp’s outing began with immediate disaster, as the Guardians loaded the bases against him in the first inning. A defensive mistake from Luke Keaschall opened the door for trouble before Rhys Hoskins added a sacrifice fly and Travis Bazzana launched his first career home run. What looked like it might become another short outing instead turned into one of the most encouraging performances of Prielipp’s young career. After the rocky opening frame, the left-hander settled in completely. He dominated over the next four innings, piling up six strikeouts while allowing very little hard contact. Even though he was charged with the loss, only one of the four first-inning runs counted as earned because of the Keaschall error. More importantly, he pushed through five innings while throwing a career-high 93 pitches. “It wasn't my cleanest inning of all time, but the team needed me, and I was able to buckle down and get through five,” Prielipp said. That quote probably explains exactly why the Twins are so intrigued by him. The stuff has always been there. The swing-and-miss ability is real. The fastball explodes at the top of the strike zone, and the slider can disappear underneath bats. The question has never been whether Prielipp has enough talent to start in the majors. The question has always been whether his body can withstand the demands it entails. Right now, the Twins are discovering the answer in real time. Minnesota already appears ready to slow things down. Prielipp’s next turn in the rotation lined up with Thursday’s series finale against Miami, but the Twins gave him an extra day. He'll pitch on six days of rest Friday night against the Brewers, as the team carefully monitors his workload and his recovery. “This is just being mindful of the player, because we really like him and believe in him,” Twins manager Derek Shelton said prior to Prielipp’s last start. “We have to be thoughtful that way. He will be monitored very closely, and I’ll presume it will happen for the foreseeable future.” That balancing act is complicated, because Prielipp’s current workload is unlike anything he has handled before. MLB.com’s Matthew Leach recently asked him how he was feeling physically with the demands of major-league life, and Prielipp admitted that pitching every fifth day is difficult. That may sound routine for established starters, but for him, it is completely new territory. Last season, Prielipp crossed the five-inning mark only twice in the minors. He topped 80 pitches only twice all year. In his last two major-league starts, he has surpassed 90 pitches both times. The Twins have also pushed him to complete at least five innings in three of his five starts. That jump matters. Minor-league pitching schedules differ from those in the majors. Mondays are typically off days across the league, which naturally creates more recovery time between outings. Organizations also carry larger pitching staffs because development matters more than squeezing every possible inning out of a prospect. Young pitchers are often removed early, regardless of effectiveness, simply to protect health and preserve long-term value. There are clear benefits to that philosophy. Pitchers avoid unnecessary wear and tear during critical developmental years. Teams can gradually build strength while refining mechanics and pitch design. Organizations also gain more opportunities to evaluate multiple arms rather than overwork a single prospect. Prielipp is probably a perfect example of why teams take that cautious approach. Given his injury history, there is a reasonable argument that aggressive workloads earlier in his career could have derailed him completely. At the same time, there are downsides to modern pitching development. Pitchers can arrive in the majors without ever learning how to manage fatigue deep into outings or bounce back quickly between starts. Five innings and 75 pitches may dominate player development plans, but major-league rotations still require durability. Starters eventually need to navigate lineups a third time, adjust when they lose command, and survive when their best stuff is not present. Prielipp is learning those lessons against major-league competition, because the Twins do not really have another choice. Minnesota’s pitching depth has collapsed faster than anyone expected. Pablo López is out. Taj Bradley is on the injured list. Mick Abel is sidelined. David Festa still has not contributed in the majors this season because of injuries. Simeon Woods Richardson has struggled badly enough, but the Twins have reached the point where there are few realistic alternatives available. What once looked like an organizational strength now feels dangerously thin. That reality places additional pressure on Prielipp. Under normal circumstances, the Twins might have preferred to shelter him more aggressively. They could have skipped starts more often, capped outings earlier, or even shifted him into shorter bursts to preserve innings. Instead, they need him to hold together meaningful portions of the rotation. That creates both opportunity and risk. The opportunity is obvious. Few pitchers in the organization possess Prielipp’s upside. Even Friday’s outing demonstrated how overpowering he can become once he settles into a rhythm. Over those middle innings against Cleveland, he looked every bit like the high-ceiling arm the Twins envisioned when they drafted him. The risk is equally obvious. Every additional inning pushes him further beyond any workload he has carried before. Every five-day turnaround becomes another test his body has never experienced. The Twins are trying to develop a future starter while simultaneously relying on him to help stabilize a damaged rotation in the present. That is not an easy line to walk. For now, the Twins appear committed to remaining cautious, while still letting Prielipp compete. Extra rest periods will likely continue. Shorter outings may appear periodically, even when he is pitching well. Some inconsistency is probably inevitable as he adapts to the rhythm of a full major league schedule. But last week may have revealed why the organization is willing to take the risk in the first place. Prielipp got punched in the mouth immediately. He could have unraveled. Instead, he regrouped, attacked hitters, and delivered four outstanding innings afterward while reaching a career high pitch count. That combination of stuff, resilience, and competitiveness is exactly what teams dream about in a young starter. The Twins just have to figure out how to protect it long enough for him to fully become one. Are the Twins handling Prielipp appropriately? Should they have pushed him harder in the minors? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

We’re excited to team up with Brewer Fanatic for a dual-city celebration that brings baseball fans together in Minneapolis and Milwaukee for a full night of baseball, community, giveaways, and game-day energy. On Saturday, Twins fans in and around Milwaukee can join a watch party at Broken Bat Brewing, while Twins fans (and Brewers fans) in Minneapolis will be kicking off the night from 4-5:30 pm at Smorgie’s in Minneapolis – just blocks from the ballpark. In true Twins Daily Social Club style, our hometown gathering will have drink specials, giveaways, baseball conversation, and plenty of Twins Daily vibes throughout the afternoon, including chances to win one of the most popular collectibles in Twins Daily history: the exclusive 2026 Winter Meltdown pint glass. Fans can also enter raffles for Smorgie’s gift cards and other baseball-themed prizes during the event. Once the game begins, the festivities continue in Wisconsin with a full watch party at Broken Bat Brewing from 5:30–9 pm. Located in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood, Broken Bat Brewing will host Brewers and Twins fans alike for a lively watch party complete with giveaways (including the Winter Meltdown pint glass), contests, baseball talk throughout the evening, AND your first beer of the evening is free! Expect a fun-filled night of camaraderie and baseball excitement. If you joined us at Smorgie’s earlier this season for the Home Opener party, you already know how much fun these gatherings can be. The energy was incredible, and we cannot wait to do it again with the Brewers in town this weekend. So, grab your Twins gear, bring your friends, and celebrate another great baseball weekend with the Twins Daily community! MPLS PREGAME PARTY DETAILS What: Minneapolis Pregame Party Cost: Free Where: Smorgie’s, 508 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis When: 5/16/26 4-5:30 pm MILWAUKEE WATCH PARTY DETAILS What: Milwaukee Watch Party Cost: Free Where: Broken Bat Brewery, 135 E Pittsburgh Ave, Milwaukee When: 5/16/26 5:30-9 pm View the full article

We are thrilled to team up with Twins Daily for a dual-city baseball celebration that brings Brewers and Twins fans in Milwaukee and Minneapolis together for a full night of baseball, giveaways, community, and game-day energy. On Saturday, Brewers fans traveling to Minneapolis can join a pregame gathering near Target Field. For those that aren't making the trip, Milwaukee is where the full watch party experience comes alive at Broken Bat Brewery. The night begins in Minneapolis, where Brewers and Twins fans will enjoy a pregame gathering at Smorgie’s from 4–5:30 pm just steps from Target Field. We'll have 2-4-1 drink specials, giveaways, baseball conversation, and plenty of Brewers vibes throughout the afternoon, including chances to win a first-of-its-kind Brewer Fanatic pint glass. Once first pitch arrives, the party shifts to Milwaukee as Brewer Fanatic takes over Broken Bat Brewing from 5:30–9 pm for a full Brewers vs. Twins watch party. Brewers fans can expect a night packed with baseball on the TVs, great beer flowing, giveaways throughout the night, and plenty of Brewers conversation inside one of the most baseball-themed breweries around. Even better? Your first beer of the night is free, making Broken Bat Brewing the perfect place to spend a Saturday night cheering on the crew with fellow Brewers fans. Both parties will provide chances to win our exclusive Brewer Fanatic x Broken Bat Brewing co-branded pint glass. These limited-edition glasses are a must-have collectible for Brewers fans and the perfect way to remember a night built around baseball, beer, and Milwaukee baseball culture. Both locations will also be raffling off gift cards and additional baseball-themed prizes throughout the evening. If you have never been to Broken Bat Brewing before, tomorrow is the perfect excuse. The Walker’s Point brewery was practically built for baseball fans, complete with baseball decor, craft beer, big screens for watching the game, and an atmosphere that feels tailor-made for Brewers baseball nights. And if you're in Minneapolis, Smorgie's is a bratwurst-throw from Gate 34, so you won't miss a minute of the game. Whether you are coming with friends, meeting fellow Brewers fans for the first time, or just looking for the best place to pregame or watch the game, tomorrow night is shaping up to be one of the most fun fan events of the season. Throw on your Brewers gear, grab your crew, and join us. We cannot wait to celebrate and watch Brewers baseball with you! MILWAUKEE WATCH PARTY DETAILS What: Milwaukee Watch Party Cost: Free Where: Broken Bat Brewery, 135 E Pittsburgh Ave, Milwaukee When: 5/16/26 5:30-9 pm MPLS PREGAME PARTY DETAILS What: Minneapolis Pregame Party Cost: Free Where: Smorgie’s, 508 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis When: 5/16/26 4-5:30 pm View the full article

We are thrilled to team up with Twins Daily for a dual-city baseball celebration that brings Brewers and Twins fans in Milwaukee and Minneapolis together for a full night of baseball, giveaways, community, and game-day energy. On Saturday, Brewers fans traveling to Minneapolis can join a pregame gathering near Target Field. For those that aren't making the trip, Milwaukee is where the full watch party experience comes alive at Broken Bat Brewery. The night begins in Minneapolis, where Brewers and Twins fans will enjoy a pregame gathering at Smorgie’s from 4–5:30 pm just steps from Target Field. We'll have 2-4-1 drink specials, giveaways, baseball conversation, and plenty of Brewers vibes throughout the afternoon, including chances to win a first-of-its-kind Brewer Fanatic pint glass. Once first pitch arrives, the party shifts to Milwaukee as Brewer Fanatic takes over Broken Bat Brewing from 5:30–9 pm for a full Brewers vs. Twins watch party. Brewers fans can expect a night packed with baseball on the TVs, great beer flowing, giveaways throughout the night, and plenty of Brewers conversation inside one of the most baseball-themed breweries around. Even better? Your first beer of the night is free, making Broken Bat Brewing the perfect place to spend a Saturday night cheering on the crew with fellow Brewers fans. Both parties will provide chances to win our exclusive Brewer Fanatic x Broken Bat Brewing co-branded pint glass. These limited-edition glasses are a must-have collectible for Brewers fans and the perfect way to remember a night built around baseball, beer, and Milwaukee baseball culture. Both locations will also be raffling off gift cards and additional baseball-themed prizes throughout the evening. If you have never been to Broken Bat Brewing before, tomorrow is the perfect excuse. The Walker’s Point brewery was practically built for baseball fans, complete with baseball decor, craft beer, big screens for watching the game, and an atmosphere that feels tailor-made for Brewers baseball nights. And if you're in Minneapolis, Smorgie's is a bratwurst-throw from Gate 34, so you won't miss a minute of the game. Whether you are coming with friends, meeting fellow Brewers fans for the first time, or just looking for the best place to pregame or watch the game, tomorrow night is shaping up to be one of the most fun fan events of the season. Throw on your Brewers gear, grab your crew, and join us. We cannot wait to celebrate and watch Brewers baseball with you! MILWAUKEE WATCH PARTY DETAILS What: Milwaukee Watch Party Cost: Free Where: Broken Bat Brewery, 135 E Pittsburgh Ave, Milwaukee When: 5/16/26 5:30-9 pm MPLS PREGAME PARTY DETAILS What: Minneapolis Pregame Party Cost: Free Where: Smorgie’s, 508 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis When: 5/16/26 4-5:30 pm View the full article

The Royals were swept this week by the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, losing the series finale on Thursday, 6-2. That brings Kansas City's record to 19-25, tying them for last in the AL Central with the Detroit Tigers. Currently, the Royals are 4.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians, who lead the AL Central with a 24-21 record. The upcoming stretch is not an easy one for the Royals. They go to St. Louis this weekend for a three-game series against the rival Cardinals in Busch Stadium. Then, they come back home for a nine-game homestand that includes series against the Red Sox, Mariners, and Yankees. The Yankees are one of the best teams in the American League with a 27-17 record. While the Red Sox (18-25) and Mariners (22-23) have struggled this year, they still have high-quality talent and could beat the Royals in a three-game series. Thus, Kansas City may need to shake up a roster that ranks 21st in runs scored and pitching ERA. After 44 games, the Royals have a decent sample of at-bats and innings and thus have enough evidence to make the changes needed to turn their fortunes around. Let's take a look at three changes the Royals could make, whether to the lineup, rotation, or bullpen, to help provide a much-needed spark to this currently floundering squad. Move Salvador Perez Out of the Cleanup Spot Salvy is the heart of the Royals and the captain for a reason. He has a long history of production with the Royals, especially on the offensive end. He had 27 home runs and 104 RBI in 2024 and 30 home runs and 100 RBI in 2025. Thus, it makes sense why manager Matt Quatraro and GM JJ Picollo decided to lean on Salvy to be the Royals' cleanup hitter for another season. However, Perez has finally shown signs of decline this year, especially at the plate. This year, the 36-year-old Royals catcher has six home runs, but he's only hitting .200 with a .578 OPS in 176 plate appearances. His bat speed and hard-hit metrics are down across the board, as evidenced by his TJ Stats Statcast profile. As fans can see above, there are many alarming trends with Salvy this year. His bat speed ranks in the 38th percentile, his hard-hit ranks in the 24th percentile, his pull-air% ranks in the 35th percentile, and xwOBA ranks in the 16th percentile. Furthermore, his 49 TJ Bat+ ranks in the 14th percentile, making him not just the worst cleanup hitter in baseball, but one of the worst regular hitters as well. At some point, the Royals need to try something different in this slot. One option could be to bat Jac Caglianone in the cleanup spot against righties and Maikel Garcia against lefties. Here's a look at Cags' TJ Stats' Statcast splits profile this year, and notice how solid he's been against righties, especially in those exit velocity, barrel, and hard-hit categories. Now, let's look at Garcia's TJ Statcast Summary splits this season. Against righties, Cags has an 80th percentile xwOBA and 97th percentile barrel rate. Against lefties, Garcia has a 99th percentile xwOBA and 75th percentile barrel rate. Thus, the Royals could get that ideal cleanup production in the aggregate, though that would mean Quatraro would have to find a different leadoff hitter against lefties (whether that's Lane Thomas or Starling Marte, who have shown solid performances against lefties this year). Designate Elias Diaz For Assignment; Promote Kameron Misner Diaz has filled in nicely for the Royals with Salvy dealing with some hip injuries. He's not hitting for a high average or getting on-base much, but he's at least hitting the ball hard and with power, as evidenced by his TJ Stats Statcast profile below. I think Diaz is serviceable as a third catcher for the Royals. However, the Royals do not need a third catcher. Instead, they need a bat that can provide some pop and production off the bench. One hitter in Omaha who could provide that much-needed production is Misner, who is off to a strong start with the Storm Chasers this season. In 39 games and 165 plate appearances, Misner is hitting .273 with a .894 OPS. He also has seven home runs, 34 RBI, 26 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. Add that with solid defense in the outfield, and he could be a player who could get some at-bats in left field or designated hitter, depending on the matchup. Looking at his Statcast percentiles, there are some flaws, especially in hard-hit rate and strikeout rate. However, there's more upside in his profile than John Rave, who saw some time with the Royals a season ago. The former Tampa Bay outfielder and Miami draft pick has also had a penchant for clutch hitting. On Thursday, he hit a walk-off home run against Toledo, his second-straight game with a walk-off hit. Misner is the kind of hitter who walks, launches, and pulls the ball in the air well. That may not result in everyday playing time, especially with this lineup already flush with lefties. However, he could be a fourth outfielder who could get hot and give this Royals lineup a much-needed jolt. Move Kris Bubic to the Bullpen I know this is a tough move to make, especially with the Royals' rotation affected by injury right now. Ryan Bergert is out for the year. Cole Ragans is on the IL. Thus, Quatraro may not want to move Bubic to the bullpen, especially since he's been decent with a 4.11 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 3.72 FIP in 50.1 IP this season. However, the Royals do not need a "decent" starting pitcher from Bubic. They need an elite one, and right now, the metrics and profile haven't been quite elite, as seen below in his TJ Stuff+ summary from this season. Bubic is posting a 12.6% BB% and 12.1% K-BB%, both worse than his 2025 marks (8.2 BB% and 16.2% K-BB%). He is also throwing fewer strikes, as his 62.9% strike rate is down from 66% in 2025. Those aren't good trends, especially for a pitcher about to enter free agency this offseason. The Royals have some pitchers returning from the IL soon who could take Bubic's place. Ragans has been throwing and could be up for a quick return from the IL. Furthermore, the Royals also have Bailey Falter, who could be utilized in the rotation as a No. 4-5 starter, though he would need some help from a long reliever in his starts. That said, even though he may not be a frontline starter, his TJ Stuff+ summary from Omaha shows that he could be an intriguing arm who could go 3-5 innings, depending on the outing. Another reason the Royals could use Bubic in the bullpen is that their relievers have been mediocre this year, to put it nicely. They rank 27th in ERA, 26th in WHIP, and 28th in BB/9 and HR/9. The group needs help, and it's too early in the season to acquire any reliever of note in a trade. When he pitched in the Royals bullpen in 2024, Bubic was elite. In 27 outings and 30.1 IP, Bubic posted a 2.67 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 1.88 FIP, 32.6% K%, and 28.1% K-BB%. Below is what his TJ Stuff+ summary looked like that season. As fans can see, there are a lot of benefits to moving Bubic to the bullpen in terms of his stuff and profile. As a reliever, Bubic posted excellent zone, chase, whiff, and xwOBACON rates. He has been paltry in those categories, even with a TJ Stuff+ profile that, in 2024, was similar to his 2026 profile. Even though the stuff was pretty similar in 2024 to his 2026 marks, the fastball velocity is markedly different. In 2024, he averaged a 93 MPH and 108 TJ Stuff+. In 2026, his four-seamer averaged 91.7 MPH and a 104 TJ Stuff+. Those are good marks, but they could be even better if he's able to pump the velocity a bit. That would be easier to achieve as a reliever than as a starter. The Royals could use Bubic as their primary setup man for the remainder of the season. While Strahm has veteran credibility, his TJ Stuff+ profile has declined, and as a result, he is posting a 4.02 ERA in 15.2 IP this year. It's a bold move and a big risk, especially considering Bubic's history as a starter last year. That said, the Royals need to preserve Bubic over the course of the season, especially since his season was cut short due to injury just after the All-Star Break. Moving to relief preserves his health and gives the Royals bullpen the big-out arm that they desperately need, especially in those high-leverage situations in the late innings. View the full article

As the ivy on the brick walls at Wrigley grows stronger and greener and prospects have had a chance to separate themselves over a month of play, we here at North Side Baseball have finished up our first round of 2026 prospect voting and have seen a significant shakeup in the Chicago Cubs' top 20. A shifting of the tide was always expected; the Cubs have seen many of their top prospects graduate or be traded in the past two years, but there have been a few surprises, both good and bad so far in the new year. Who made our new top 20? We'll break it down below. Chicago Cubs Top 20 Prospects (May 2026): 1. Jefferson Rojas, SS 2. Jaxon Wiggins, SP 3. Pedro Ramirez, 2b/3b 4. Kevin Alcantara, OF 5. Josiah Hartshorn. OF 6. Ethan Conrad, OF 7. Kane Kepley, OF 8. Jonathon Long, 1b 9. James Triantos, INF 10. Cole Mathis, 1b/3b 11. Owen Ayers. C 12. Brooks Caple. SP 13. Juan Cabada, SS 14. Kaleb Wing, SP 15. Angel Cepedad, SS 16. Dominick Reid, SP 17. Jostin Florentino, SP 18. Ty Southisene, SS 19. Will Sanders, SP 20. Brandon Birdsell, SP Who's Stock is Up? Simply put, it feels like it would be malpractice if this section didn't begin with Pedro Ramirez. Ramirez is someone who has hit at every level and to be fair, everyone has probably slept on him a bit. How many switch hitting infielders put up a 122 wRC+ while striking out just 15.1 % of the time at Double-A to begin with? How many of them are 21 years old? And how many players who put up those data points wouldn't even make an organization's top five, let alone be hanging around on the back end of a top 10? I'm not even blaming anyone, I've remained skeptical too, mainly because he looked mostly like a second baseman and one with limited power. It feels like that old Michael Jordan meme; as it seems, Pedro Ramirez took that personally. As of publishing, Ramirez has already set his career high for HR's hit at any level in any season with nine. He's done so with a sterling 136 wRC+, a strikeout rate under 17%, a wOBA in the 80th percentile, and an in-zone contact rate in the 96th percentile. He's done this as a 22-year-old in Triple-A. While Baseball America contributor Eli Ben-Porat is almost assuredly being hyperbolic considering it's 38 games and he wasn't anywhere near a top-100 list to start the year, he compared him to Guardians star-third baseman Jose Ramirez. You don't get put in a sentence with that level of a player if you're not having a hell of a season, regardless of how exaggerated that comment may be. Ramirez is not the only prospect who's stock is way up, as the early returns on the 2025 draft class are simply fantastic so far. First off, sixth-round selection, and the receiver of the second highest slot bonus of the draft, Josiah Hartshorn looks like an absolute menace for opposing pitchers. Thus far, the switch hitting outfielder has a 154 wRC+, has walked 30 times compared to just 10 strikeouts, and has four home runs. Simply put, you will not find a 19-year old with a better idea of what is and isn't a strike than this kid. And unlike Ramirez's early days, people won't be worried about the power potential of a 6'0", 220lbs prospect like Hartshorn. Not to be outdone, 19-year-old pitcher Kaleb Wing has been generating a ton of strikeouts and whiffs down in Arizona and feels like he's way ahead of schedule. Wing, the Cubs' fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft, has massive upside and is flashing it already. He's got a fastball that has added value (and people in the organization, according to Cubs' prospect guru Bryan Smith, believe this offering could hit 100mph). My favorite aspect? A 19-year-old who's relatively new to the position already has a changeup. Again, you just don't see teenagers with this pitch very often. Usually, it's a story more like Cade Horton or Ben Brown; it's a pitch you learn later. It's hard not to dream on Wing's upside. A few other notable names who have raised their stocks: Brooks Caple has had a wonderful start in South Bend, has already been promoted to Knoxville, and his stuff has jumped and looks like he could be a real MLB starting pitcher down the road. Arizona Fall League standout Owen Ayers made short work of South Bend as well and now is also in Double-A. The power has really begun to pop and despite being 25, he's new to being a catcher so some of that is easily forgiven. As well, Kevin Alcantara has showed off some impressive power and a new swing change, and is now among the top homer hitters regardless of level across all of MiLB. Who's Stock is Down? The reality of prospects is that while as fun as it is to count your wins, not everyone is going to succeed all the time. The first month of the season has certainly had some players whose stock is down. Jonathon Long, one of the darlings of the 2025 season, hasn't had the best start to his 2026 campaign. While his .305/.377/.413 line looks good, the International League is a bit of a hitters' paradise, so his wRC+ is sitting at just 105. More importantly, his quality of contact just isn't as good as it was last year. He's seen a decline in his barrel rate, pull rate, zone contact, whiff rate and hard-hit rate. Though some of them are only a few percentage points, you'd like to see someone who is now pushing 800 PA's at his current level remain in that upper crust, especially as a 1B prospect who relies so heavily on his bat. It's not dire, but it's not in the right direction either. The good news is that it's just one month of data; we can look back at this in a few weeks and consider ourselves silly for worrying. A few injuries have also been a bit of an annoyance for various players. For some, like Jaxon Wiggins and Ethan Conrad, it has just (knock on wood) delayed the start of their seasons. Wiggins, the Cubs' de facto best arm in the system, has dealt with elbow soreness. The hope is that a weekend bullpen session will jumpstart his 2026 campaign, but it's yet to have been reported how that went (as of this writing). Top 2025 draft selection, Ethan Conrad, has also been sidelined with a back injury and has yet to make his debut. The Cubs have also seen other injuries to starting pitchers such as Will Sanders, who was placed on the seven day injured list on April 23rd and Brandon Birdsell, who is still recovering from Tommy John surgery last year. Both pitchers are currently hanging on to the 19th and 20th spots on our list, but could fall off if a few of the other risers keep pushing upward. State of the Farm System The Chicago Cubs' minor-league system was always going to take a hit here. The team has graduated a lot of players recently and has traded others. There should be no panic in a tumble down the rankings due to these reasons; good baseball teams do this. Prospects are capital; sometimes that capital is used to graduate players and turn them into MLB contributors, such as Moises Ballesteros, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Matt Shaw and others. Sometimes you trade that capital (such as Jackson Ferris, Owen Caissie and Zyhir Hope) to acquire MLB contributors like Michael Busch. The trick is in what you do afterward, and it'd be hard to argue this year hasn't been promising. Entering the offseason, the Cubs were generally a team you'd feel comfortable placing in the bottom-10 in baseball but as of today, things are trending closer to being an "average" system than a "below-average" one. I didn't even hit on our new top prospect Jefferson Rojas, despite a pretty solid 114 wRC+ on the year from the 21-year-old who's currently playing in Knoxville. That's how you know it's been a pretty good start down on the farm; the guy in the top spot is kind of an afterthought so far (and really, by no fault of his own). Another sign it's been a good start: Jonathon Long is the one statistical player in the top-20 you can find some fault with, and even then he's not off to a drastically bad season, just a less than impressive one. So far, the highs are pretty highs and the lows are pretty acceptable. It's early, however, so the Cubs shouldn't count their chickens too fast. Pedro Ramirez is flying high, but it's been less than 40 games into his breakout and we should probably stop short of the hyperbolic dreams (he probably isn't the next Jose Ramirez). Jaxon Wiggins isn't entirely out of the crosshairs of a potential injury, and what does or doesn't happen to Kevin Alcantara's contact rate moving forward is unknown. That said, it's hard not to be at least optimistic as we sit here in the middle of the May that the Cubs are at least showing signs that they're capable of finding replacements for all of those prospects who have either been promoted or traded. Which Cubs top-20 prospects are you most excited about? Did someone make your personal top-20 list that didn't make ours? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

Transactions: LHP Rob Zastryzny assigned to Nashville on Major League rehab INF/OF Eric Brown Jr. reinstated from AA Biloxi’s 7-day injured list C Edgardo Ordoñez placed on Development List from AA Biloxi Game Action: Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Nashville 6, Iowa (Cubs) 5 Box Score and Game Log Via MLB.com, details and video of the terrific game-ending defensive play by OF Jordyn Adams: Former 4-star wide receiver makes incredible game-ending HR robbery at Triple-A Also, via extracts from the Sounds’ postgame notes which we’re able to share: Adams Robs I-Cubs Chance at Late Game Rally – Williams Collects a Pair of Extra-Base Hits in Sounds Win Jordyn Adams sealed Nashville's Thursday night victory with a game-ending double play from right field and robbed the I-Cubs of any late-inning magic in the 6-5 win at First Horizon Park. The outfielder tipped what appeared to be a three-run home run off the bat of Justin Dean into his own glove on the way down before doubling off Christian Bethancourt trying to return to first base. The Sounds struck first with an RBI for Ethan Murray after Jeferson Quero (1-for-2, HR, 2 walks, RBI) and Greg Jones drew two of the 11 walks issued by Iowa to start the inning. Nashville played small ball to move the runners into scoring position for Murray to capitalize on the RBI chance with a productive groundout. The I-Cubs took their first lead in the next half inning with two runs on four hits of RHP Carlos Rodriguez (3 1/3 IP, 4 R, 8 H, 2 BB, 4 Ks; 75 pitches), who piggy-backed off a three-up, three-down one-inning start for rehabbing Major Leaguer Rob Zastryzny (3-up, 3-down first inning). Tyler Black (1-for-4, double, walk, RBI, SB) quickly evened the score at two a piece and extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI double in the home half of the third. Following a quiet fourth inning, Iowa jumped back out to a 2-run lead with three more hits off Rodriguez. RHP Kaleb Bowman (2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 Ks) inherited a bases-loaded situation and walked the first man he faced before striking out Dean and inducing a groundout to escape the inning without any further damage done. Quero started Nashville's comeback with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to one run. Jett Williams (2-for-4, double, walk, SB) doubled in the sixth for his second extra-base hit of the night after hitting a triple in the fourth and came around to tie the game on an RBI single for Cooper Pratt (2-for-5, double, RBI) to tie the game at 4-4. Black worked his way around the bases in the home half of the seventh to put Nashville back in front. After drawing a walk, Black advanced to second on an errant throw trying to double him off first after a lineout and then stole third before a throw from Bethancourt ended up in left field and allowed Black to make his way home. In the eighth, Williams reached on a fielder's choice, and Pratt collected his second hit with a double before Iowa gave Luis Lara (0-for-1, 4 walks, SB) an intentional free pass to first base to load the bases. Brock Wilken recorded his 25th RBI of the season with a sac fly to give Nashville a run in four straight innings and build a 6-4 lead. RHPs Junior Fernandez and Reiss Knehr tag-teamed the final two innings on the mound for Nashville. Fernandez struck out one, walked one, and allowed a hit as he stranded two for his second hold of the season in the top of the eighth. Knehr allowed two straight singles to start the top of the ninth but got Scott Kingery to fly out to right field for the first out and advance one runner to third. That set the stage for Adams to rob Dean of a go-ahead three-run home run and end the game with his highlight-reel finish. Sounds’ Extras: Wilken extended his on-base streak to 30 consecutive games, drawing a one-out walk in the bottom of the third inning. He has the longest-active streak in the International League and is tied for fifth among full-season minor leaguers with Pablo Reyes and Derek Bernard. Black is currently hitting .310 (13-for-42, 4 XBH, 7 RBI, 8 BB, 8 R) during his hitting streak. After going 0-for-4 on opening night of the season in Norfolk on March 27, he is hitting .319 (22-for-69) with seven doubles, a home run, 14 RBI, eight walks, and 10 runs scored over his last 20 games between Nashville (11 G) and Milwaukee (9 G). Quero’s solo shot marked his fifth homer of the season, the fourth off right-handed batters and the second at home. In his three-year stint with the Sounds, Quero has posted a .253 career batting average (86-for-340), 21 doubles, one triple, 11 homers and 69 RBI. Pratt earned his eighth multi-hit of the 2026 campaign, extending his on-base streak to eight consecutive games. Friday’s outlook: LHP Tate Kuehner (5.50 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 in 36 IP) is expected to start, with Nashville looking to clinch the series with a 4th straight win. RHP Coleman Crow (last pitched on May 7) is another starting option, though he may be called up to The Show or the MLB Taxi Squad instead. Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Montgomery (Rays) 9, Biloxi 3 Box Score and Game Log Via the Shuckers’ website, game details and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Brown Jr. Returns from IL with Multi-Hit Performance in Shuckers Loss 25-year-old RHP Tanner Gillis’ first career AA start was an active one (4 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 5 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks), with 7 of the first 12 batters reaching base but only 3 making it home. He helped himself out with a 1st inning pick-off and benefitted from OF Eric Brown Jr.’s 3rd inning assist. Unfortunately, the Shuckers’ offense only sent 16 batters to the plate in the first 5 innings, finding themselves in a 5-0 hole by the end of that 5th inning. 1B Blake Burke (3-for-4, RBI; .900 OPS), C Darrien Miller (1-for-2, HR, HBP, sac fly, 2 RBIs; 1.082 OPS) and Brown (2-for-4, double, SB) collected 6 of the team’s 7 hits, as the squad got to within 5-2 by the 7th inning but could not close the gap further. Shuckers’ Extras: RHPs Edwin Jimenez and Ryan Birchard were effective in relief (combined 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks), while RHP Sam Garcia and LHP Joe Corbett struggled (combined 2 IP, 6 R, 3 Ks). SS Eduardo Garcia exited for a pinch hitter in the 7th inning, shifting Brown to shortstop and 3B Mike Boeve to the outfield. Back from 2-week injury absence, former first round pick Brown is now in his 5th minor league season. If he can keep his OBP above .320 (presently .340 after 47 plate appearances), his strong defensive skills can see the 25-year-old progress further up the organizational chain. Friday’s outlook: RHP Brett Wichrowski (7.34 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 9.7 K/9 in 30 2/3 IP) is set for his 5th start (8th appearance), with Biloxi shooting to grab a 3-1 series lead at Montgomery. Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes Final: South Bend 25 (Cubs), Wisconsin 6 Box Score and Game Log Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: South Bend Pulls Away Late to Beat Wisconsin In addition to the embedded videos in the linked game report, the Wisconsin media team has compiled more highlights here: As you’ve read in the report and seen in the box score, this was a back-and-forth baseball game most of the way, tied 6-6 as they entered the 7th inning before things took a negative turn. Starting LHP JD Thompson (4 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 Ks) faced the minimum number of batters through 3 innings, inducing a ground ball double play to end the 2nd inning and picking off a runner in the 3rd frame, ultimately exiting at 56 pitches after a 4-pitch walk to start the 5th inning. Outfielders Braylon Payne (3-for-5, HR, RBI) and Josh Adamczewski (3-for-4, triple, walk, RBI, SB) had 6 of the team’s 8 hits and 3 of their 6 runs, including Payne’s solo homer to grab a 4-3 lead and Adamczewski’s infield RBI single to tie the game 6-6 in the 6th inning. Timber Rattlers’ Extras: Although it hurt to concede 4 runs in the 7th inning, RHP Jose Nova (1 IP, 4 ER) made steps in the right direction by not throwing any wild pitches (vs. 7 in his last outing) and only issuing one walk (vs. 3 last time out). By contrast, RHP Bryan Rivera (2 IP, 4 ER), RHP Quinton Low (1/3 IP, 4 ER) and LHP Bjorn Johnson (2/3 IP, 3 ER) were not able to follow up previous strong relief outings. INF/OF Luiyin Alastre’s 4th career minor league mop-up appearance saw his career ERA rise from 16.88 to 27.00. After a big game on Sunday, C Marco Dinges missed his 3rd consecutive game, though we’re encouraged by the fact that he’s not been placed on any injured list. Per a trusted source on SS Luis Pena: “Details of his visit to the neurologist will remain private. As for his status, it remains the same as my last update. I’ll reiterate that Peña is fine and could be playing right now, but the organization wants to know if there is a deeper issue that caused the incident or, equally possible, that resulted from the incident before a return to the field.” Friday’s outlook: 23-year-old RHP Travis Smith has had a great start to the season (3.14 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 7.5 K/9 in 28 2/3 IP) and will get the chance to lead Wisconsin to a series-levelling victory. Wilson Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Wilson 7, Hill City (Guardians) 3 Box Score and Game Log Via the Warbirds’ website, game details: Funky Fourth Inning Gives Wilson First Win of Series On Military Appreciation Night in Wilson, a patient eye (8 walks) and wild-and-wacky defense by the Howlers (5 errors, 4 wild pitches, 1 passed ball) were an effective formula on Thursday, as Wilson built a 6-1 lead by the 4th inning. DH Jadyn Fielder (2-for-4, RBI) connected on 2 doubles and OF Handelfry Encarnacion (0-for-1, RBI) drew 4 walks were the offensive standouts, with the Warbirds scoring 7 runs despite going 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and only tallying 3 RBIs. 2025 third round pick RHP Jacob Morrison (2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) made his 3rd start, conceding a leadoff homer before buckling down to retire the next 6 batters in order. Morrison exited the game after a walk and caught stealing to commence the 3rd inning, with an “injury delay” listed in the game log. Hopefully he’s not had any setback. C Kevin Garcia snapped a 1-for-28 skid to start the year with a leadoff bloop single in the 2nd inning, scoring alongside 3B Filippo Di Turi on a bases loaded wild pitch and error to grab a 2-1 second inning lead. Fielder’s first double pushed the lead to 4-1 in the 4th inning, followed by a run-scoring interference error (and ejection for the Hill City manager) and a run-scoring walk. RHP Thomas Conrad (1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks) was terrific in relief of Morrison, while RHP Eric Prado (2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 Ks) induced two ground ball double plays to earn his first career save. There was some interesting baserunning by the opposition here: Warbirds’ Extras: 6’6” LHP Andrew Healy’s first career win came in an up-and-down relief effort (3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 Ks), ably covering the 5th through the 7th innings. Eight Wilson position players reached base via hit or walk, while 1B Frederi Montero contributed a sacrifice fly. Friday’s outlook: LHP Enderson Mercado (6.58 ERA, 2.15 WHIP, 11.1 K/9 in 26 IP) is scheduled to make his 5th start (8th appearance) of 2026, with Wilson aiming to even the series at two games apiece. Final: ACL Brewers 13, ACL Rangers 7 Box Score and Game Log Sparked by leadoff catalyst OF Brailyn Antunez (2-for-4, HR, walk, RBI, 2 SBs), the Zona Crew scored in each of the first 4 innings to build an 8-2 lead, then tacked on 4 more runs in the 6th inning to push their advantage to 12-5 and essentially put the game away. Antunez singled, stole a base and scored on an error in the first inning, then walked, stole again and came home on a DH Cristopher Acosta single for a 5-2 lead in the second frame. Eight Brewers collected at least one base knock, as they out-hit the Rangers 15-6, while also benefitting from 5 opposition errors. OF Kenny Fenelon (2-for-3, double, walk, HBP, RBI, 3 SBs) and 3B Moises Polanco (3-for-4, walk) reached base 4 times, while OF Alexander Frias (3-for-5, double, RBI), SS CJ Hughes (1-for-3, 2 walks, SB) came aboard 3 times. Rehabbing 2023 #33 overall draft pick RHP Josh Knoth got the start (2 1/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks), while 19-year old RHP Chase Bentley did the heavy lifting out of the ‘pen (3 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 4 BB, 3 Ks). The mission was apparently to cause havoc on the basepaths, as the team registered 8 thefts, but was also caught stealing twice and were picked off 4 other times. Even with 15 hits, 8 walks and 1 HBP, the team only left 3 men on base over 9 innings, as they either scored or ran into outs (e.g. Polanco was caught on a double steal in the 2nd inning, picked off in the 5th frame and picked off again in the 9th inning). 1B Roderick Flores (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) saw his first action in one week, while C Freider Rojas (1-for-3, walk, SB) played for the first time in 6 days. RHP Bryan Regalado struggled in relief (1 1/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 2 Ks), while RHPs Josue Toledo, Argenis Aparicio and Ayendy Bravo combined on 2 hitless, scoreless innings with 2 Ks. We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Friday, Wilson kicks things off with a 6:05pm CST start time, while the ACL Brewers (4-5) host the ACL Guardians (4-5) at 8pm. The Milwaukee Brewers also commence their series in Minnesota at 6:10pm. 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