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Cubs Transactions No Roster Moves Alcántara's Three-Hit Night Wasted In 16-2 Iowa Loss At St. Paul The Iowa Cubs were buried 16-2 in St. Paul, allowing seven home runs as a staff while managing only six hits of their own. Kevin Alcántara was the lone bright spot at the plate. The cleanup hitter went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, his 11th of the season, scoring twice and driving in a run. BJ Murray added a 2-for-3 line with a double, an RBI, and a walk, and leadoff man Brett Bateman drew two walks. The Cubs went a combined 0-for-22 from everyone outside of Alcántara, Murray, and Bateman. Things came apart immediately. Starter Collin Snider lasted just 1 1/3 innings, surrendering three home runs and three runs on three hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Paul Campbell followed with four innings, allowing seven hits, five runs, and three more long balls while striking out four. Doug Nikhazy took the loss in his Iowa debut, charged with eight earned runs on six hits and three walks across 2 2/3 innings, with four strikeouts. The Saints stretched the game open with a four-run third that included a two-run shot off Campbell, then added three more in the seventh and one in the eighth. Alcántara accounted for both Iowa runs. He singled in the second and scored on Murray's RBI double, then launched his solo homer to right-center in the seventh. Iowa left five on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Brett Bateman 2 0 1 0 2 0 Pedro Ramírez 4 0 0 0 0 1 Jonathon Long 4 0 0 0 0 0 Kevin Alcántara 4 2 3 1 0 1 BJ Murray 3 0 2 1 1 0 Owen Miller 3 0 0 0 1 1 Christian Bethancourt 4 0 0 0 0 2 Scott Kingery 3 0 0 0 0 2 Hayden Cantrelle 2 0 0 0 1 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Collin Snider 1 1/3 3 3 3 1 2 3 Paul Campbell 4.0 7 5 5 1 4 3 Doug Nikhazy (L, 0-2) 2 2/3 6 8 8 3 4 1 Garriola's Two-Homer Game Falls Short In Smokies' 7-5 Loss The Knoxville Smokies dropped a 7-5 decision at Rocket City, undone by a five-run bottom of the fifth that erased a two-run Knoxville lead. Andy Garriola powered the offense with two home runs, three RBI, two runs scored, and a walk over a 2-for-3 night. He gave Knoxville its first lead with a two-run shot in the second that scored cleanup hitter Jefferson Rojas, then went deep again leading off the fourth to push the margin to 3-1. Rojas finished 2-for-4 with a double, a run, and an RBI, knocking in Owen Ayers in the sixth. Ethan Hearn drove in Jordan Nwogu with a double in the eighth. Tyler Schlaffer started and worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks while striking out three. Vince Reilly tossed two scoreless and hitless innings of relief, walking none and striking out four. Jace Beck took the loss, charged with five earned runs on seven hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings, with two strikeouts. The decisive frame opened with a Schlaffer groundout, but a single off Schlaffer brought on Beck, and Beck immediately surrendered three straight singles, with the third plating the runner he inherited and a teammate to tie the score at 3. A walk loaded the bases, and a fielder's choice grounder fielded by Hearn at first scored two more runs after a fielding error by catcher Ayers. A two-out RBI double accounted for the fifth run. Knoxville left seven on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alex Ramírez 4 0 1 0 0 0 Jordan Nwogu 4 1 1 0 0 1 Owen Ayers 3 1 0 0 1 2 Jefferson Rojas 4 1 2 1 0 0 Andy Garriola 3 2 2 3 1 0 Ethan Hearn 4 0 1 1 0 2 Carter Trice 4 0 1 0 0 3 Ed Howard 3 0 1 0 0 1 Edgar Alvarez 1 0 0 0 0 0 Alex Madera 4 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Tyler Schlaffer 4 1/3 3 2 1 4 3 0 Vince Reilly 2.0 0 0 0 0 4 0 Jace Beck (L, 2-1) 1 2/3 7 5 5 1 2 0 South Bend Loses 7-6 As Bullpen Coughs Up Late Lead To Fort Wayne The South Bend Cubs squandered a one-run lead in the ninth and fell 7-6 to the Fort Wayne TinCaps, with reliever JP Wheat charged with the loss and a blown save after walking in two runs. Cleanup hitter Cole Mathis paced the offense with a 1-for-3 night that included a triple, two runs scored, an RBI, two walks, and a stolen base. Drew Bowser tied the game in the fifth with a two-run double. Leadoff man Kane Kepley went 1-for-4 with an RBI walk, a run scored, and a walk. Cameron Sisneros walked twice and added an RBI single in the third. Starter Ethan Flanagan delivered four innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out four. Kevin Valdez followed with 3 2/3 innings of relief, charged with four earned runs on six hits, three walks, and two strikeouts, including a solo homer in the fifth. Kenyi Perez recorded one out without surrendering a baserunner. Wheat covered one inning, walking four batters and giving up two runs without allowing a hit while striking out one. South Bend trailed 5-3 entering the bottom of the fifth before Bowser tied it with his two-run double, scoring Mathis and Sisneros. The Cubs grabbed a 6-5 lead in the eighth, when Kepley's bases-loaded walk plated Matt Halbach. Wheat opened the ninth with two quick groundouts before walking four straight batters; the fourth walk resulted in two runs scoring to put Fort Wayne ahead 7-6, and a strikeout ended the inning. South Bend left nine on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley 4 1 1 1 1 1 Leonel Espinoza 5 1 1 0 0 3 Kade Snell 4 0 0 0 1 1 Cole Mathis 3 2 1 1 2 2 Cameron Sisneros 3 1 1 1 2 2 Matt Halbach 4 1 0 1 1 1 Drew Bowser 2 0 1 2 1 1 Justin Stransky 4 0 1 0 0 1 Christian Olivo 4 0 0 0 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Ethan Flanagan 4.0 4 1 1 1 4 0 Kevin Valdez 3 2/3 6 4 4 3 2 1 Kenyi Perez 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 JP Wheat (L, 1-1)(BS, 1) 1.0 0 2 2 4 1 0 Pelicans Edged 4-3 Despite Reid's Strong Five-Inning Outing The Myrtle Beach Pelicans dropped a 4-3 decision to the Columbia Fireflies, falling behind for good in the eighth on a fielder's choice grounder. Starter Dominick Reid turned in five innings, allowing five hits, two runs (one earned), four walks, and striking out six. Hayden Frank took the loss across four innings of relief, charged with two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Myrtle Beach grabbed an early lead in the bottom of the first. Leadoff man Alexis Hernandez singled, Josiah Hartshorn walked, and after a strikeout, cleanup hitter Logan Poteet drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Jose Escobar then singled to left to plate Hernandez and Hartshorn for a 2-0 advantage. Columbia tied the game at 2 in the fifth, getting a run on a bases-loaded walk and another on an RBI single after a fielding error by third baseman Yahil Melendez extended the inning. The Fireflies took a 3-2 lead in the seventh on a soft RBI grounder, but Myrtle Beach answered in the bottom half when Poteet singled home Michael Carico to tie it at 3. Columbia retook the lead in the eighth, stringing together two singles and a walk against Frank before a force-out grounder plated the winning run. Hartshorn went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored, Hernandez had a hit and a run, Melendez doubled, Carico walked twice and stole a base, and Escobar drove in the two first-inning runs. The Pelicans left nine on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexis Hernandez 5 1 1 0 0 0 Josiah Hartshorn 4 1 1 0 1 0 Michael Carico 3 1 0 0 2 1 Logan Poteet 2 0 1 1 2 0 Jose Escobar 4 0 1 2 0 1 Derniche Valdez 4 0 0 0 0 1 Yahil Melendez 4 0 1 0 0 0 Edward Vargas 4 0 0 0 0 0 Darlyn De Leon 3 0 0 0 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Dominick Reid 5.0 5 2 1 4 6 0 Hayden Frank (L, 1-1) 4.0 3 2 1 1 2 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Moises Ballesteros: DNP Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Jefferson Rojas: 2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI Kevin Alcantara: 3-for-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, K Jonathon Long: 0-for-4 Ethan Conrad: DNP Pedro Ramirez: 0-for-4, K Kane Kepley: 1-for-4, R, RBI, BB, K Josiah Hartshorn: 1-for-4, R, BB James Triantos: DNP Brandon Birdsell: DNP Cole Mathis: 1-for-3, 3B, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, SB Angel Cepeda: DNP Kaleb Wing: DNP Will Sanders: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Jostin Florentino: DNP Dominick Reid: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K Ty Southisene: DNP Erian Rodriguez: DNP View the full article

Fish Unfiltered discusses the development of Marlins second baseman Xavier Edwards, catcher Liam Hicks and shortstop Otto Lopez, who are all on pace for career years. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs have their closer back. Right-hander Daniel Palencia was activated from the 15-day injured list Sunday, with right-handed reliever Yacksel Rios being designated for assignment. Palencia had been out since April 17 with a strained left lat. The Cubs' pitching staff has been decimated by injuries, but the team has still put together the best record in the NL Central at this early stage of the season at 21-12 entering Sunday's action. The Cubs still have nine pitchers on the injured list. Palencia's return fortifies the bullpen. He had yet to allow a run in five appearances when he went down, walking two and striking out five in five innings. Rios was called up a week ago Sunday and made just one appearance, going 1⅔ scoreless innings that day against the Los Angeles Dodgers, striking out two. View the full article

Logan Henderson is back. And this time, it will be more than just a spot start. The Milwaukee Brewers called up Henderson, a right-hander, from Triple-A Nashville in order to start Sunday's series finale vs. the Washington Nationals. Right-handed reliever Easton McGee was sent back to Triple-A. Henderson figures to be the replacement for right-hander Brandon Woodruff, who was injured in his start Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks and went on the 15-day injured list Friday with right shoulder inflammation. Henderson slotting in Sunday pushes everyone in the rotation back a day. This is the second call-up this year for Henderson. He started the second game of the April 4 doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals, going just two innings, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts in an 8-2 loss. He was called up specifically as the extra player for the doubleheader and went back to Nashville the next day. But with Woodruff down, Henderson joins the rotation for a more extended stay. Henderson made five starts for the Crew in 2025 before a strained right flexor ended his season in August. He was very good in three call-ups, putting together a 3.02 FIP (1.78 ERA) in 25⅓ innings with an 11.1% walk rate and 33.3% strikeout rate. Henderson had an elbow issue in spring training that knocked him out of the rotation battle. This year at Nashville, he made five appearances (three starts), walking nine and striking out 26 in 17⅔ innings. McGee, in his second brief call-up this season, pitched one scoreless inning Friday against the Nationals, allowing a walk. View the full article

The second time through Lake Elsinore is proving to be beneficial for Winyer Chourio. The 22-year-old right-handed starter struggled in nine appearances for the Low-A affiliate in 2025, registering a 6.30 ERA in 20 innings. But back for a second tour with the Storm, Chourio is showing the promise from when the San Diego Padres signed him two years ago. Chourio finished April with his best outing as a pro, striking out eight and allowing one run over five innings in the Storm's 4-3 loss in 10 innings Tuesday to the Ontario Tower Buzzers, a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate. That capped a month in which he appeared in five games with four starts, compiling a 2.12 ERA, allowing four runs on nine hits with eight walks and 26 strikeouts over 17 innings. His 26 K's are tied for second in the California League. He limited opponents to a .153 batting average. That performance earned Chourio our unofficial award for the Friars' pitcher of the month in April 2026. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Chourio is a late bloomer. While most international free agents sign as 16-year-olds, the Venezuelan didn't latch on with the Padres until he was 20 years old, inking his contract in May 2024. He immediately performed well while pitching for the Padres' Dominican Summer League teams. In 12 games (seven starts), Chourio had a 2.09 ERA in 38⅔ innings, striking out 34 and walking 19 while opponents hit .159. CHOURIO_MILB_POM.mp4 That earned him a trip to the U.S. for the 2025 season. Doing that affects players differently and Chourio, who is not related to Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, struggled during his first season in America. He began the season in the Arizona Complex League, making three starts among his 12 games. In 35⅓ innings, Chourio had a 6.37 ERA with 16 walks and 38 strikeouts, allowing five homers in his 44 hits. Opponents hit .308 against him. The Padres pushed him up to Lake Elsinore for the final two months of the season, where he appeared in nine games (two starts). It didn't go much better with the Storm as he threw 20 innings, walking 11 and striking out 17. He eliminated home runs from his ledger but saw opponents hit .309. But 2026 has been much different. Returning to Lake Elsinore, Chourio has been the best pitcher in the Padres' system over the first month (a slight edge over Fort Wayne TinCaps left-hander Kash Mayfield). After making a one-inning relief appearance on Opening Day, Chourio has been the Tuesday starter for the Storm, opening each six-game series. Chourio has allowed four runs in 17 innings. In his four starts, he has struck out six, five, six and a career-high of eight. That eight-strikeout performance came in the same game that rehabbing Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell started, so he might have been a little amped for that matchup. The five innings were the most he has pitched since coming to the U.S. It would figure that Chourio would need more success at Lake Elsinore before being promoted to Fort Wayne, which has the worst team ERA in the Midwest League. His 2.12 ERA would lead the California League if he had a few more innings. He likely won't spend the rest of the first half with the Storm, but making sure he is ready for a promotion would be beneficial for everyone involved. View the full article

The start of 2026 has produced some legendary “remembering guys” conversations for Blue Jays fans about 10 years from now. Eloy Jiménez, Lenyn Sosa, and Brandon Valenzuela each received upwards of 30 plate appearances for the Jays this month thanks to an almost unprecedented string of injuries. It’s an easy excuse, but Toronto’s 14-17 record in the month is not where we or the team expected it to be. With the caveat that the Jays missed George Springer, Addison Barger and Alejandro Kirk for the majority of the month, I present to you the Toronto Blue Jays, who finished the first month of the season with the 25th-ranked offense according to wRC+, 29th-ranked offense according to xwOBA, and 26th-ranked offense in actual runs scored. It didn’t help that when the Jays did get runners in scoring position, they tied for the worst wRC+ in baseball. It’s worth noting that this time last year, we were having a very similar discussion about the state of the 2025 Blue Jays offense after April, and as the team continues to get healthy, the race for the top spot on this list should get tighter throughout the season. With all that being said, there were a few guys who had a very positive month and deserve some flowers for helping to keep this team’s head above water through all of the injuries. Toronto Blue Jays Hitters of the Month 3. Kazuma Okamoto - .218/.301/.373, 5 HR, 13 BB, 38 K, 90 wRC+, 0.3 fWAR Okamoto’s appearance on this list is carried heavily by a hot start and a strong finish. The overall numbers are cratered by a seven-game stretch where he went 2-for-27. That stretch also happened to coincide with his team struggling to win baseball games, which caused Okamoto to draw some pretty heavy criticism from Jays fans. But an adjustment to stand further back in the box late in the month helped Kaz get back on track and hit .268 with three homers in his final 47 plate appearances. There’s still a lot of work to do to get his whiff rate and strikeout percentage – which were upwards of 30% in March/April – to somewhere reasonable, but when he’s made contact, he’s done damage. He’s running an elite hard-hit rate, barrel percentage and average exit velocity, which helped him lead the team with five homers in the first month. The power he’s shown has been a blessing for the Jays, who hit just 26 homers in the month, the sixth lowest mark in baseball. The defensive statistics don’t love him, but anyone who’s watched the games knows that the third base defense has been better than advertised, and not only has he made Jays fans feel comfortable, he’s made some impressive plays coming in on baseballs. Kazuma Okamoto earns the third spot on the first Blue Jays Hitters of the Month list of the season, and now that he’s gotten his feet wet, I think he’s only getting better from here. 2. Ernie Clement - .302/.323/.429, 1 HR, 4 BB, 9 K, 108 wRC+, 0.5 fWAR Ernie picked up right where he left off in his legendary playoff run and got off to a hot start to 2026. He’s been exactly the guy you remember from 2025 so far this season. His 6.9% strikeout percentage was the second lowest in baseball behind only the Giants’ Luis Arraez. All of those balls in play helped him to hit above .300 in the first month of the season, and his 13 doubles tied for the most in MLB. The Jays have asked a lot of Clement, moving him to be the full-time second baseman, and in George Springer’s extended absence, Clement was often asked to fill in at the top of the order, either in the leadoff spot or two-hole. He was very effective, hitting .316 and .342, respectively. Of course, as we all expected, the up-the-middle defense between Clement and Andrés Giménez has been extremely fun to watch. 0.5 fWAR in the first month of the season has Clement on pace for about another three-win season. Not bad for a guy that was cut by the Athletics a few years ago. 1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - .354/.438/.469, 2 HR, 15 BB, 15 K, 155 wRC+, 1.2 fWAR Normally, a two-homer month from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would have Jays fans throwing fits, but he did just about everything else in the batter’s box at an elite rate. His .354 batting average was the second best mark of the month, second by just two points to Yordan Alvarez. He walked exactly as much as he struck out, and he didn’t miss a game in a month where the Jays were ravaged by injuries. There was really no other choice for the top spot on this list. Vlad’s 1.2 fWAR not only led the Jays, but it was double the next closest mark – Giménez and Daulton Varsho both had 0.6. Vlad was also the only Blue Jay to finish the first month with an OPS over .800, and he smashed that with a .907. As the Jays’ lineup continues to get healthy, and he gets some of his protection back in the form of Alejandro Kirk and Addison Barger, I expect to see Vlad’s power numbers tick back up. When that happens, we could be in for an extremely special season. Hopefully, when the next iteration of this article comes out at the end of May, the choice for the top spot is a lot tougher, but for now, the franchise player is exactly where he belongs: the top Jays hitter of the month. View the full article

Henry Williams turned in a quality start with two earned runs over six innings, fanning five, as Northwest Arkansas rallied past Springfield 7-5. Tommy Molsky added two scoreless innings to nail the save. Omaha cruised 8-4 behind Abraham Toro's two-run homer during a four-run fifth, and Beck Way picked up the win. Quad Cities fell 2-1 despite Austin Charles' ninth-inning solo homer. Columbia edged Myrtle Beach 4-3, with Yandel Ricardo collecting two hits. Royals Transactions No Roster Moves Storm Chasers Storm Back To Beat Bats 8-4 Omaha rallied from an early hole to beat Louisville 8-4. The Storm Chasers got on the board in the bottom of the first when Luca Tresh singled home Kameron Misner, but the Bats kept inching ahead and led 3-1 entering the fifth. The fifth inning broke the game open. John Rave doubled to right, and Tyler Tolbert followed with a single. Misner brought home Rave on a sacrifice fly, Tresh singled to score Tolbert, and Abraham Toro launched a two-run home run, his fourth of the year, to put Omaha ahead 5-3. The Storm Chasers tacked on three more in the eighth. Gavin Cross singled, Dustin Dickerson doubled to plate Elih Marrero and Cross, and Rave singled in Dickerson. Rave finished 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Toro went 2-for-3 with a homer, a walk, two RBI, and a run. Tresh added a 2-for-3 day with two RBI, a walk, and a run, and Tolbert collected two hits with two stolen bases. Beck Way provided the relief that won the game, working 2 2/3 innings with five strikeouts, two hits, no walks, and one run on a solo home run. Eli Morgan tossed two scoreless frames with three strikeouts, and Eric Cerantola finished with a clean ninth. Player AB R H RBI BB K John Rave 5 1 3 1 0 1 Tyler Tolbert 5 1 2 0 0 2 Kameron Misner 3 1 1 1 0 0 Luca Tresh 3 1 2 2 1 1 Abraham Toro 3 1 2 2 1 0 Josh Rojas 4 0 0 0 0 1 Elih Marrero 4 1 1 0 0 2 Gavin Cross 4 1 1 0 0 1 Dustin Dickerson 4 1 1 2 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Ben Sears 2 1/3 4 2 2 2 0 1 Beck Way (W) 2 2/3 2 1 1 0 5 1 Bailey Falter 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 Eli Morgan 2 2 0 0 0 3 0 Eric Cerantola 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Naturals Rally Past Cardinals 7-5 With Late Heroics Northwest Arkansas weathered two Springfield rallies to win 7-5. Rudy Martin Jr. opened the scoring with an RBI double in the third, and Carson Roccaforte's RBI single in the fifth pushed the lead to 2-1. Springfield grabbed a 3-2 edge in the top of the sixth, but the Naturals answered with three in the bottom half. Martin Jr. singled, Sam Kulasingam doubled him in, Daniel Vazquez singled home Kulasingam, and Spencer Nivens singled to plate Vazquez for a 5-3 lead. The Cardinals tied it back up in the seventh on a string of free passes, only for Northwest Arkansas to push two more across in their half. Justin Johnson walked, Roccaforte singled, Martin Jr. dropped a sacrifice bunt to bring in Johnson, Kulasingam walked, and Brett Squires lined a single to score Roccaforte for the eventual final score. Roccaforte and Daniel Vazquez each finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, with Vazquez adding a double and a stolen base. Martin Jr. went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Henry Williams turned in a quality start, working six innings while allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Christian Chamberlain entered the seventh, did not record an out, and was charged with two runs on two walks. Caden Monke escaped the inning to earn the win, and Tommy Molsky locked things down with two scoreless innings, two walks, and two strikeouts for the save. Player AB R H RBI BB K Carson Roccaforte 4 1 2 1 0 1 Rudy Martin Jr. 3 1 2 2 0 0 Sam Kulasingam 3 1 1 1 1 1 Brett Squires 4 0 1 1 0 1 Daniel Vazquez 4 1 2 1 0 0 Jorge Alfaro 4 0 0 0 0 4 Spencer Nivens 3 0 1 1 1 0 Omar Hernandez 3 1 0 0 1 3 Justin Johnson 2 2 0 0 2 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Henry Williams 6 6 3 2 0 5 1 Christian Chamberlain 0 0 2 2 2 0 0 Caden Monke (W) 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 Tommy Molsky (S) 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 River Bandits Drop 2-1 Pitchers' Duel In Wisconsin Quad Cities was held in check by the Timber Rattlers in a 2-1 loss. Josh Hansell delivered five strong innings for the River Bandits, allowing one run on three hits with no walks and four strikeouts, with the lone run coming on a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth. Tanner Jones followed with three innings of work, surrendering one run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Wisconsin tacked on its second run on a single in the bottom of the seventh. The lone Quad Cities offense came in the top of the ninth. Luke Pelzer popped out to start the inning, then Austin Charles ripped a solo home run to left field, his third of the year, to cut the deficit to 2-1. The next two River Bandits struck out to end the game. Charles finished 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, an RBI, and a run scored. Tyriq Kemp went 2-for-3 with a double, and Derlin Figueroa added a 1-for-4 day with a double. The River Bandits stranded six runners on the bases. Blake Mitchell drew a walk in his only time on base, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Ramon Ramirez also worked a walk while striking out twice. Player AB R H RBI BB K Nolan Sailors 4 0 0 0 0 1 Blake Mitchell 3 0 0 0 1 1 Ramon Ramirez 3 0 0 0 1 2 Luke Pelzer 4 0 0 0 0 0 Austin Charles 4 1 2 1 0 1 Derlin Figueroa 4 0 1 0 0 1 Erick Torres 4 0 0 0 0 2 Tyriq Kemp 3 0 2 0 0 0 Trevor Werner 3 0 1 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Josh Hansell (L) 5 3 1 1 0 4 1 Tanner Jones 3 2 1 1 2 3 0 Fireflies Edge Pelicans 4-3 With Late Comeback Columbia overcame an early deficit to beat Myrtle Beach 4-3 on the road. The Pelicans jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, and the Fireflies battled back in the fifth. With one out, Daniel Lopez reached on an error, Josi Novas walked, and Yandel Ricardo singled to load the bases. Josh Hammond walked to force in Lopez, and Brooks Bryan singled to score Novas to tie the game 2-2. Columbia took the lead in the seventh after Novas reached on another error, advanced on Ricardo's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Hammond's groundout. Myrtle Beach answered to make it 3-3, then the Fireflies went back ahead in the eighth on Lopez's RBI groundout that scored pinch-runner Roni Cabrera. Ricardo led the Fireflies with a 2-for-4 day at the plate with a double. Lopez added a 1-for-4 effort with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Josi Novas reached three times and scored twice. Shane Van Dam labored through 4 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits with five walks and one strikeout. Jose Gutierrez took over and tossed 4 1/3 strong innings, scattering two hits and one earned run while issuing one walk and striking out three to earn the win. Player AB R H RBI BB K Yandel Ricardo 4 0 2 0 0 0 Josh Hammond 4 0 0 2 1 1 Brooks Bryan 5 0 1 1 0 1 Hyungchan Um 4 0 1 0 0 2 Roni Cabrera 0 1 0 0 0 0 Sean Gamble 3 0 0 0 1 1 Stone Russell 4 0 1 0 0 1 JC Vanek 2 0 1 0 2 1 Daniel Lopez 4 1 1 1 0 1 Josi Novas 3 2 1 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Shane Van Dam 4 2/3 3 2 2 5 1 0 Jose Gutierrez (W) 4 1/3 2 1 1 1 3 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Carter Jensen: DNP Blake Mitchell: 0-for-3, BB, K David Shields: DNP Kendry Chourio: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Sean Gamble: 0-for-3, BB, K Josh Hammond: 0-for-4, 2 RBI, BB, K Ramon Ramirez: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K Drew Beam: DNP Asbel Gonzalez: DNP Yandel Ricardo: 2-for-4, 2B Felix Arronde: DNP Luinder Avila: DNP Daniel Vazquez: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, SB Steven Zobac: DNP Carson Roccaforte: 2-for-4, RBI, K Blake Wolters: DNP Michael Lombardi: DNP Warren Calcaño: DNP Frank Mozzicato: DNP View the full article

Congratulations to RHP John Klein, the Minnesota native called up to the big leagues on Saturday morning. He made his MLB debut with a 12-pitch, 1-2-3 ninth inning against the Blue Jays. TRANSACTIONS On Saturday morning, we learned that the Twins were placing RHP Cole Sands on the Injured List with a forearm strain. Taking his place on the roster is RHP John Klein, the Minnesota native who was added to the Twins 40-man roster in November. The Saints activated C David Banuelos from the Development List. Saints RHP Cory Lewis began his rehab assignment with the FCL Twins on Saturday. The FCL Twins began their 2026 season on Saturday. Three players on their roster were officially placed on the long-term Injured Lists. RHP Rey Pacheco was placed on the 60-Day IL. RHP Anderson Ramos and infielder Santiago Leon were placed on the full-season IL. For more on these players and the other three dozen FCL Twins on their Opening Day roster, check out the 2026 FCL Twins Roster Preview. RHP Yosangel Braffit was signed by the Twins in late February and assigned to the DSL Twins on Saturday. The Twins signed infielder Murphy Stehly to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Wichita. He was signed from the HIgh Point Rockers of the Atlantic League. The 27-year-old was the Nationals 10th round pick in 2022 from the University of Texas. Reached Double-A. SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 16, Iowa 2 Box Score The Saints and Cubs have been exchanging wins and losses with some very different game types. On Saturday, the Saints pounded out a record 11 extra base hits and seven home runs on their way to a 16-2 win. But let’s start with this. For the second straight start, Zebby Matthews was really good. He gave up one run on three hits, and in five innings, he walked three and struck out seven batters. Marco Raya came on and gave up a solo homer to Kevin Alcantara who hit his International League-leading 11th home run of the season. But that was it. One run on one hit over two innings. He also walked one batter. Raul Brito gave up two hits and a walk over two scoreless innings. The Saints scored runs in seven of the innings they batted. Five of those innings were multi-run innings. Of the nine starters, only the slumping Gabriel Gonzalez went hitless, 0-for-5. Over his past four games, he is 0-for-17 with seven strikeouts. Seven of the hitters had at least two hits. Kyler Fedko went 3-for-5 with his eighth home run. Kaelen Culpepper had just one hit, but he also had a walk and was hit by a pitch. In the first inning, Walker Jenkins and Kaelen Culpepper walked to start the game. With one out, Ryan Kreidler hit his third homer, a three-run blast (108.8 mph at 30 degrees = 433 feet.) In the second frame, Ben Ross led off with a walk. He scored on a Tanner Schobel double (106.2 mph). Jenkins drove in Schobel with a single to make it 5-1 Saints. In the third inning, Fedko scored on a Kreidler single and an error. With two outs, Ben Ross doubled (104.3 mph) to drive in another run Alex Jackson hit his fourth homer of the season to give the Saints a 9-1 lead. (108.4 mph at 25-degree angle = 412 feet.) Kaelen Culpepper led off the bottom of the fourth inning with his sixth home run (100.3 mph at 29 degrees = 365 feet.). Fedko followed immediately with his eighth home run. (101.3 mph at 29 degrees = 401 feet.) 11-1 Saints. Ben Ross (103.1 mph) led off the fifth frame with his second double of the game. He scored on a single by Jackson (103.3 mph) to give the Saints a 12-1 lead. Just three Saints batted in the bottom of the sixth. But Orlando Arcia led off the seventh inning with his fourth homer of the season. (105.9 mph at 18 degrees = 377 feet.) With two outs, Schobel knocked his second double of the game. He came around to score on Walker Jenkins' second home run of the season. (91.7 mph at 32 degrees = 328 feet.) 15-2, Saints. Following the Jenkins homer, Culpepper was hit by a pitch in the right shoulder. A fastball ran in on him, but he had already dove a bit and opened up his hips and shoulders. Hopefully he is just suffering from bruising, and it didn’t break any bones. From what it looked like, he is going to be incredibly sore tomorrow and probably for a few days. He stayed in the game to run, but after the half-inning, he was removed from the game for the final half-inning. With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Arcia knocked his second homer of the game and fifth of the season. (104.6 mph at 27 degrees = 388 feet.) Former Gopher and Minnesota native Brett Bateman led off and played center field for the I-Cubs. He went 1-for-2 with two walks. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 6, Arkansas 16 Box Score It was a rough one for the Wind Surge on Saturday night, right from the start. Jose Olivares was able to complete just one inning. He gave up two runs on three hits and a walk. He had one strikeout. He needed 34 pitches to get through the inning. With this just being his second start after rehab, there was no need to push it. Sam Ryan came on in relief. He was charged with six runs on nine hits (including a home run). William Fleming came in and gave up three runs on four hits (including a home run). Spencer Bengard struck out two batters over two scoreless innings. Alejandro Hidalgo gave up five runs on three hits (2 of them were homers). He walked three and struck out one batter. Hidalgo started the ninth and left the game with two runners on base and nobody out. Jorel Ortega came in and allowed one of the two inherited runners to score, but no more in before getting the final three outs. After two runs scored in the top of the first inning, Wichita put a four spot. With one out, Garrett Spain singled. Hendry Mendez singled, and then Billy Amick was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With two outs, Ricardo Olivar hit his sixth double which drove in two runs. Jose Salas followed with a two-run single to make it 4-2. After that, the Wind Surge offense was Jake Rucker. The infielder drilled two home runs, his first two of the season. He hit his first in the second inning. In the ninth inning, he hit his second. He went 3-for-4 in the game and also notched his fourth double. KERNELS CHRONICLE Cedar Rapids 11, West Michigan 6 Box Score The final score of this game is not really indicative of the game. Nine-run innings in the late innings often have the kind of an effect on a game. The Kernels grabbed the first lead with a second inning run. Danny De Andrade hit his first triple and scored on a Caden Kendle single to make it 1-0. Jason Doktorczyk started the game with three scoreless innings. He gave up one run in the top of the fourth. Then the Whitecaps scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning in large part due to a couple of errors. In all, he was charged with six runs (2 earned) on four hits and a walk. He had four strikeouts. Nick Trabacchi came into the inning with the bases loaded and allowed two of the three inherited runners to score. He worked a scoreless sixth inning. A Marek Houston single drove in Jay Thomason with the Kernels second run to make it 2-6 through five innings. Things were looking bleak, but remember that nine-run inning I mentioned? Well, that came in the bottom of the seventh. Andy Lugo led off with a single. Jaime Ferrer followed with his fifth home run of the season to cut the deficit in half. Marek Houston and Eduardo Tait followed with singles. Then with one out, Khadim Diaw singled to load the bases. Danny De Andrade walked to make the score 6-5. Caden Kendle lined a single up the middle to drive in Tait and tie the game. The Kernels took a 7-6 lead on a passed ball. Jay Thomason walked, which would have reloaded the bases, but on the fourth ball, a wild pitch gave the team an 8-6 lead. Jaime Ferrer came up with two on and two outs and launched his second home run of the inning to give the Kernels nine runs in the inning and an 11-6 lead. It was Ferrer’s second home run of the night. It was his third home run in two May games, and he’s hit four home runs over his past five games. The Kernels #9 hitter is currently hitting .319 with a 1.060 OPS. Yehizon Sanchez struck out four batters over two scoreless, one-hit innings to take the Win. Paulshawn Pasqualotto got the final three outs, two on strikeouts. MIGHTY MATTERS Ft. Myers 6, Daytona Beach 7 Box Score Ramiro Villanueva made his second Mussels start. He gave up two runs (1 earned) on four hits and three walks in three innings. He struck out three batters. Reed Moring struck out two batters over two perfect innings. Harry Genth led off the top of the third inning with his fourth double. He scored on a Dameury Pena single. After a Ramiro Dominguez single, Pena scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Yasser Mercedes. That tied the game at 2-2. In the top of the fifth inning, Pena and Dominguez hit back-to-back singles. Pena scored on a Mercedes single to grab the 3-2 lead. The Mussels added another run in the top of the seventh. Mercedes knocked a one-out double, went to third on a fly ball to center field and scored on a wild pitch. Adam Falinski came in next and worked 1-2-3 innings in both the sixth and seventh innings. In the top of the eighth inning, Irvin Nunez walked and scored on Harry Genth’s first home run of the season. It gave the Mussels a 6-2 lead. Falinski went back out for the eighth inning and struck out the first batter. That was the only one he recorded. He gave up two hits and a walk. When he left the game, there were two runners on. Mitch Mueller allowed both inherited runners to score. The three runs that inning (2 earned) were charged to Falinski. Mueller did get out of that eighth inning with the Mussels hanging on to a one-run, 6-5 lead. The Mussels went 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth. Mueller came back out for the ninth inning. He gave up a single and a walk to start the inning. A passed ball moved runners to second and third with no one out. A wild pitch allowed the tying run to score, making it 6-6. However, Mueller got a ground out to first base for the first out. He hit a b after. Then he got another ground out for the second out. Could he work out of the damage? No, he threw a wild pitch, and the Tortugas topped the Mussels 7-6. All nine Mussels in the starting lineup reached base at least once by hit or walk. Yasser Mercedes led the way. He went 3-for-5 with his second double. He stole his sixth base. Genth was 2-for-3 with a walk, his first home run, and his eighth stolen base. Pena and Dominguez were both 2-for-5. Ryan Sprock, Quentin Young, and Jayson Bass each had one hit and one walk. COMPLEX CHRONICLE FCL Twins 8, FCL Red Sox 6 Box Score There weren’t a lot of highlights in this game for FCL Twins fans until their final at-bat at Bill Smith Field. Learn more about the FCL Twins roster in our FCL Twins Season Preview. RHP Cory Lewis was on the mound to start the FCL Twins season. He restarted his rehab for a second time. He had pitched on April 17th for the Mussels and went just 1/3 of an inning and gave up two hits and two walks. Saturday, he started for the FCL Twins and went 1 2/3 innings. He gave up one run on one hit and three walks. The hit was a home run. He struck out two. Omar Montano got the third out of the second inning. Last Sunday, lefty Matthew Becker tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings in the Mussels’ combined no-hitter. He was sent back to the FCL a day later. On Saturday, he made his FCL debut. He gave up four runs on three hits. In 2 2/3 innings, he walked four and had three strikeouts. Carter Holjes got four outs and gave up just one hit and walked one. Nick McAuliffe came on for the top of the seventh. He gave up one run on two hits. Jose Barrios drove in the Twins first run in the bottom of the second when he reached on an error. In the bottom of the fourth, a Barrios single drove in Merphy Hernandez with the team’s second run. Down 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Barrios came to the plate again and drove in Hernandez for the third time to make it 5-3. That brings us to the bottom of the seventh inning, Twins down 6-3. Teilon Serrano led off with a walk. Yovanny Duran followed with his first home run of the season which cut the deficit to 6-5. Luis Fragoza walked, stole second, and went to third on a wild pitch. Joyner Perez walked. That brought Merphy Hernandez, and he ended the game with a long, three-run homer that made it 8-6. Hernandez walked his first three plate appearances, so he was just 1-for-1 with the three-run walkoff homer. He stole a base. Barrios went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a stolen base. PLAYERS OF THE DAY Hitter of the Day Jaime Ferrer (Cedar Rapids): 2-for-4, 2-HR(6), 2 R, 5 RBI Pitcher of the Day Zebby Matthews (St. Paul): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 7 K, 80 pitches, 52 strikes (65.0%) PROSPECT SUMMARY Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did today. #1 - OF Walker Jenkins (St. Paul) - 2-for-4, BB, HR(2), 2 R, 3 RBI, K, SB(5). (batted first, played RF, then CF) #2 - IF Kaelen Culpepper (St. Paul) - 1-for-3, BB, HBP, HR(6), 2 R, RBI(batted second, played SS) #3 - OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul) - Did Not Play. #4 - C Eduardo Tait (Cedar Rapids) -1-for-5, R (batted second, played Catcher) #5 - LHP Connor Prielipp (Minnesota) - Did Not Pitch #6 - LHP Dasan Hill (Cedar Rapids) - Did Not Pitch #7 - OF Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul) - 0-for-5, 2 K (batted fifth, played 1B, then RF) #8 - LHP Kendry Rojas (St. Paul) - Did Not Pitch. #9 - SS Marek Houston (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-5, R, RBI (batted first, played 2B) #10 - RHP Charlee Soto (Cedar Rapids) - Injured List #11 - RHP Riley Quick (Cedar Rapids) - Did Not Pitch #12 - RHP Andrew Morris (Minnesota) - Did Not Pitch #13 - 3B/CF Brandon Winokur (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-5, 2 K (batted third, played SS) #14 - 3B/SS Quentin Young (Ft. Myers) - 1-for-4, BB, 3 K (batted sixth, played SS). #15 - RHP Marco Raya (St. Paul) - 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 24 pitches, 15 strikes (62.5%) #16 - OF Hendry Mendez (Wichita) - 1-for-5, R (batted third, played LF) #17 - 2B/OF Kyle DeBarge (Wichita) - 0-for-4, 2 K (batted fifth, played SS) #18 - RHP C.J. Culpepper (Wichita) - Did Not Pitch. #19 - C/OF Khadim Diaw (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-5, R, K (batted fourth, played CF) #20 - RHP James Ellwanger (Ft. Myers) - 60 IL (right elbow sprain) UPCOMING PROBABLES Sunday: Iowa @ St. Paul (2:07 pm CT) - RHP Andrew Bash (1-2, 6.00 ERA) Arkansas @ Wichita (1:05 pm CT) - RHP C.J. Culpepper (0-1, 2.75 ERA) West Michigan @ Cedar Rapids (1:05 pm CT) - RHP Ivran Romero (1-0, 8.00 ERA) Ft. Myers @ Daytona (12:05 pm CT) - RHP Justin Mitrovich (professional debut) CURRENT W-L Records Minnesota Twins: 14-20 St. Paul Saints: 14-17 Wichita Wind Surge: 13-13 Cedar Rapids Kernels: 13-13 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 16-10 FCL Twins: 1-0 DSL Twins: 0-0 (season begins Monday, June 1) Please feel free to ask questions about the teams, the rosters, and discuss today’s games, or anything else Twins minor-league related! View the full article

Transactions: RHP Josh Knoth sent on rehab assignment to ACL Brewers RHP J.B. Bukauskas sent on rehab assignment to ACL Brewers RHP Jhosep Ospino promoted to ACL Brewers from DSL Brewers Blue RHP Josue Toledo promoted to ACL Brewers from DSL Brewers Blue RHP Sean Episcope placed on ACL Brewers' 7-day injured list Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Norfolk (Orioles) 5, Nashville 2 Box Score and Game Log Via the Sounds, game details, and we encourage readers to always review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Lara Adds Another Homer in Sounds Loss - Nashville Strands 10 and Goes 0-for-10 with RISP For the affiliate broadcasters, it's pretty cool when they can provide the voice on a highlight clip that gains traction among those in the broader MLB community, including concerned Brewers fans, not to mention fantasy team owners. Surely Jeff Hem would have preferred if this clip hadn't been spotlighted overnight. Curt, along with others, subsequently passed along news from the Brewers that Chourio was removed from the game for precautionary reasons. Now we wait. Milwaukee's other key rehabber, Andrew Vaughn, played the full game at first base, but finished 0-for-5, grounding into two double plays, one with the bases-loaded and nobody out in the 9th, representing the tying run. The first of his twin-killings, in the 5th, was his hardest-hit ball of the night at 100.3 MPH. Jeferson Quero added to the GIDP non-party with two men on to end the 6th. I'm aware you just read the always-awesome Sounds recap linked above, but allow me to copy again the following: "Outfielder Luis Lara went yard for the sixth time this season as it came in the bottom of the first inning, hitting off the right field foul pole for the 1-0 lead. Lara leads all Sounds hitters, passing Eddys Leonard (5), while he's tied for 10th in the International League. The 21-year-old leads the team in home runs (6), hits (39), and stolen bases (12). Lara continues to lead the International League in hits and runs (30) and ranks ninth in AVG." We certainly hope that Chourio is fine. But if he'll be out for any additional extended period, the choice is pretty clear. Although right-handed bat and capable-at-best OF/INF Eddys Leonard and his 1.002 OPS would be interesting (and again was productive Saturday, 3-for-4), Leonard is also out of minor league options, so the organization would have to commit to his placement at the big-league level for some time. Put another way, in a worst-case Chourio scenario (hopefully doesn't come to that), the 21-year-old switch-hitting Lara and his exquisite defense makes sense as the option. The Sounds need to figure out how to cope with the early-evening sun angle's effects on that center-field camera. As for Jeff Hem's call, Norfolk pitcher Cam Weston's immediate exit after just seven pitches may have to do with his possible need at the big-league level for Baltimore, but that is pending. A melted snow-cone extends Brock Wilken's on-base streak: Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes Final, Game One: Pensacola (Marlins) 7, Biloxi 4 Box Score and Game Log Final, Game Two: Pensacola 6, Biloxi 3 Box Score and Game Log NOTE: Both games in Pensacola were seven-inning contests. Shuckers Drop Both Games of Doubleheader Against Blue Wahoos Picking up on the topics that doubleheader summary touched on - Please refresh yourselves with the MLB Trade Rumors write-up on the Brewers acquiring OF Damon Keith from the Dodgers on March 27th. Pretty random, right, and surprisingly worthy of an MLBTR notation. It'd be pretty sweet to spend a moment with members of the front office as to what prompted this acquisition - and believe me, I've done comparisons to what other organizations have posted as their own "ivory tower" rosters. The Brewers sheer numbers in Baseball Operations, Player Development, Performance Development and Scouting are way above the norm. So, whatever came together to work the Keith acquisition out, regardless of a real need for bodies in the grass at the AA level at the time, what metrics, what backroom discussion, led to the target of the soon-to-be 26-year-old. Outside of a nine-day injured list stint, Keith's 68 plate appearances to date (yes, still a small sample) have led to a ridiculous .379/.471/.724 line (1.195 OPS). Also from Game One, enjoy the Mike Boeve and Darrien Miller home runs. While at it, note the waterfront backdrops in Pensacola, among the prettiest in MiLB. Game Two was rather non-descript outside of an exciting return to action for 24-year-old (25 in June) RHP Cameron Wagoner, the 2022 11th round pick out of Eastern Michigan who made 24 appearances for the Timber Rattlers (22 starts) in 2023 but had been sidelined since. No formal injury had been noted in the two years since outside of elbow issues, so make your own conclusions there. Perhaps an upcoming pre-game interview will help shed light. Welcome back and with flair, Cameron! Rare does twelve pitches make for such attention - Jesus Made did not strike out on the night, but finished 0-for-7, he was the DH in Game Two. Dylan O'Rae's on-base streak ended at 24 when he failed to reach in the nightcap. Blake Burke was 0-for-5 with a walk, and I'm guessing he'd trade some of his 10 stolen bases (in 11 attempts) for a few less errors, now at five as of May 2nd. One reason Wagoner's mound work gathered attention is because the other four arms who saw action on Saturday didn't post impressive lines, as your double box score reviews revealed. All Shucker position players saw action with the exception of 3rd (and primarily bullpen) catcher Edgardo Ordonez, who only has one at-bat thus far. Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link) Final: Wisconsin 2, Quad Cities (Royals) 1 Box Score and Game Log Via the Timber Rattlers, game details: Wisconsin Beats Bandits 2-1 for Second Straight Win - Thompson and Smith hold Quad Cities in check while Ragsdale provides the offense The BrewerFanatic Link Report authors really should allocate a significant portion of our exorbitant salaries to the Rattlers media staff. For home games in particular, fans just need to game summary read - video review watch - podcast listen. RHP Travis Smith, the Kentucky native and University of Kentucky product (15th round, 2024) starred on a day that his state gets plenty of attention. Welcome to pro ball, 2025 2nd rounder J.D. Thompson (if you hadn't already figured it out, Spencer Michaelis is a good social media follow) Thank goodness for Josiah Ragsdale's bat Saturday, things were quiet from the top of the order otherwise. Wilson Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Wilson 10, Salem (Red Sox) 0 Box Score and Game Log Pitching Paces Warbirds in Saturday Victory - Wilson Limits Salem to two hits Whoa, who are these Warbirds? That's a 21-2 run differential the past two nights. On Friday, there was a very un-Wilsonlike four XBH's. There were another four on Saturday, including two Jadyn Fielder doubles. Here's the second one, and oh yeah, that's a scorebug on the Wilson broadcast! Looks nice, but we need the men-on-base indicator (I'm so picky, sorry). Minus Friday night's amazing bat flip - Brady Ebel singled, walked and had a sacrifice fly as he continues to warm up, Ebel also now 6-for-6 in SB attempts. Nice games for Pedro Ibarguen and Yannic Walther, joining Fielder within the lower third of the order. The Wilson game summaries aren't as beefy as their cousins in the upper levels, but the team did well to spotlight pitching within their title and subtitle, linked above. Joining J.D. Thompson on debut duty - Let your box score review properly credit the three relievers who followed for six innings of scoreless two-hit ball (four BB, one HBP, nine K's). Final: ACL Brewers 12, ACL Padres 1 Box Score and Game Log Earlier on Saturday on our daily forum thread, we posted: Here's your up-to-the-minute Maryvale roster, including who's on rehab assignments, IL lists, etc. For these early season games, we'll focus specifically on those names in the box score specifically. My Link Report compatriot "Ro" conveniently posted this, also pre-game: The lineup features professional debuts for 18-year-old 2B CJ Hughes (2025 11th round pick) and 19-year-old C Rylan Mills (2025 18th round pick). Rehabbing RHP Josh Knoth will see his first official action since August 2024. 1 - Cristopher Acosta (18) - SS - stateside debut 2 - Brailyn Antunez (18) - CF - stateside debut 3 - Kenny Fenelon (18) - LF - stateside debut 4 - Alexander Frias (18) - RF - stateside debut 5 - Jonathan Rangel (19) - DH - stateside debut 6 - CJ Hughes (18) - 2B - professional debut 7 - Rylan Mills (19) - C - professional debut 8 - Juan Martinez (19) - 3B - stateside debut 9 - Roderick Flores (19) - 1B X - Josh Knoth (20) - P The nine in the lineup played the full game. 4th-year utility man Roderick Flores, in his return Maryvale season, tripled and scored two runs, playing first base in this one. It's rare to see players pigeon-holed as first basemen below the High-A level, so expect to see several players get their turns at the cold corner. The other eight in the lineup other than Flores all reached base not just once, but twice. Plus, it was the two 2025 draft picks spotlighted in bold above who surpassed even that high bar. Catcher Rylan Mills tripled, doubled, walked twice, and drove in four. Switch-hitting CJ Hughes, who will be just 18-years-old all season, played second base, joined Flores and Mills on the triple brigade, singled twice, walked, and stole a base. Talk about pro debuts, wow, on base four times each with pop! From @Spencer Michaelis' 2025 "Day Two" Draft Recap article: Round 11: SS CJ Hughes, Junipero Serra HS (CA) The Brewers made CJ Hughes their 11th-round selection, beginning a run of prep picks in the rounds that formerly made up day three of the draft. Hughes is a shortstop with the makings of potentially being a plus defender in the bigs someday. His actions and his feel for the game at short are very strong for his age, and his athleticism is on full display on the infield dirt. His arm is strong enough to handle short, as well. Offensively, he's a switch-hitter with really good bat-to-ball ability from both sides and a twitchy swing, to complement a strong approach. He has shown flashes of power from the left side, but very little from the right. He will need to add good weight to his frame over time to get to some extra-base power, while also maintaining his plus speed and athleticism. This will certainly be an overslot bonus for the 17-year-old, but the odds of signing Hughes away from his UC Santa Barbara commitment would seem to be high, as the Brewers don't tend to use 11th-round picks on players they don't expect to sign. Round 18: Rylan Mills, Oran HS (MO) A potential sleeper selection for the Brewers in the 18th round, Mills is a catcher from a small school in Missouri. He is committed to Southeast Missouri State. Mills has posted exit velocities of up to 110 MPH, and shown bat speed of up to 83 MPH using Blast sensors. There is tremendous pop in the bat, and he showed it with his 1.794 OPS, and 1.145 slugging percentage in high school his senior year. He had 39 hits, 23 of which were the extra base variety. 10 of those were home runs. Defensively, he looks a little slow on the trigger to make throws, but has a strong arm. Cleaning up the footwork and the exchange a bit could lead to consistent pop times under two seconds. The commitment to a smaller school would seem to make it more likely that he will be one of the players to sign from this group of 11-20 selections. The mound work here was equally impressive, with 2023 33rd overall pick post-Tommy John RHP Josh Knoth getting four of his five outs on strikeouts (reminder, we won't see pitch counts at the complex league levels). Also, welcome back rehabbing J.B. Bukauskas, awarded the victory, depriving some youngster from the W, shame on the official scorer. 2025 Mudcat RHP Jayden Dubanewicz fanned three in two frames, working his way back from an undisclosed ailment. RHP Dariel Jaquez made his stateside debut after missing all of 2025. RHP Diustin Mayorquin, the Nicaragua native who is another who will be just 18 all season, was the other arm who made his stateside debut. Weather: 88 degrees, Sunny. Wind: 11 mph, In from CF. First pitch: 11:01 AM. T: 3:30. Venue: Peoria Stadium Complex (SD). Yeah baby, the kids are back (along with our expanded Link Report duties!). For those keeping track at home, that's J.D. Thompson and J.B. Bukauskas (with the punctuation) and CJ Hughes (without). The Maryvale kids take their usual Sunday off. Elsewhere, the Shuckers and Bishop Letson get the early evening spotlight (no getaway gametime in Pensacola) with the other clubs enjoying traditional afternoon first pitches while at home. Enjoy (and be OK, Jackson Chourio!). Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View the full article

The story of April for the Minnesota Twins' pitching staff starts with opportunity arriving ahead of schedule. Top prospects Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, and Andrew Morris all made their big league debuts earlier than most would have predicted coming out of spring training. Injuries and inconsistency forced the Twins to tap into their upper-level depth, but the early returns suggest this organization may be better positioned than expected. It is not just about filling innings. There is legitimate long-term upside in this group, and while the results have been uneven, the foundation being built could pay dividends well beyond 2026. Here’s a look at the top-performing pitchers for the Twins in the season’s first month. 4. Kody Funderburk March/April Stats: 14 G, 11 2 3 IP, 2.31 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 8 K, 9 BB, 5.70 FIP, 195 ERA+ The bullpen has offered very little stability, particularly as the calendar flipped deeper into April and late leads began to slip away. In that environment, Funderburk has quietly become one of the few arms Derek Shelton can trust. The underlying numbers suggest some turbulence with more walks than strikeouts, but context matters. As one of the few left-handed options, he has often been deployed in situations that do not favor him, including frequent matchups against right-handed hitters. He has managed to navigate those assignments well enough to keep games within reach. His role may continue to evolve, but for now, he stands as one of the lone steady pieces in an otherwise volatile bullpen. 3. Bailey Ober March/April Stats: 7 G, 38 IP, 3.55 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 29 K, 13 BB, 4.16 FIP, 125 ERA+ It would not have been surprising to see Ober fighting for his rotation spot by the end of April. Instead, he has been one of the Twins' most dependable starters. The drop in velocity that raised concerns in spring training has not disappeared, but Ober has adjusted in a way that feels reminiscent of pitchers from another era. He is leaning more heavily on his changeup, mixing speeds, and attacking hitters with precision rather than power. There is always some risk when a pitcher lives in that margin, but through the first month, Ober has done more than just survive. He has been a stabilizing force in a rotation that needed one. 2. Joe Ryan March/April Stats: 7 G, 38 1 3 IP, 3.76 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 39 K, 9 BB, 2.98 FIP, 118 ERA+ Ryan’s performance might be the easiest to overlook simply because it looks so familiar. He continues to post numbers that align with his previous seasons as a near All-Star caliber arm. The strikeout-to-walk profile remains strong, and his ability to limit baserunners has kept him effective even when results have fluctuated. What stands out more this year is the approach. Run support has been inconsistent at best, yet Ryan has not shown the visible frustration that occasionally surfaced in the past. If that steadier mindset holds, it could allow his underlying consistency to translate into even better results throughout the season. Twins Pitcher of the Month: Taj Bradley March and April Stats: 7 G, 41 IP, 2.85 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 44 K, 15 BB, 3.82 FIP, 155 ERA+ Bradley has taken a significant step forward and looks like a completely different pitcher than the one acquired at last year’s trade deadline. He has assumed the role of staff ace, not just in terms of results but also in terms of workload. With the bullpen struggling, the Twins have leaned on him to pitch deeper into games, and he has responded. His pitch mix adjustments have allowed him to miss more bats while still finding ways to navigate lineups multiple times. If recognition were handed out today, he would be the clear representative for this staff, and his early performance has placed him firmly in the conversation among the league’s top starters. The Twins did not script April to unfold this way, but there are signs of progress beneath the surface. Bradley’s emergence gives the rotation a legitimate anchor, while Ober’s ability to adapt has provided unexpected stability. Ryan continues to deliver his usual reliability, even if it has flown under the radar. The bullpen remains a concern, yet Funderburk has carved out a role as one of the few dependable options. Combined with the early exposure for the next wave of pitching prospects, this month may ultimately be remembered less for its growing pains and more for the groundwork it laid. How would your ballot look for Minnesota’s top pitcher in April? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

The first month of the season for minor league baseball has concluded, and these were the Blue Jays' best minor league relievers to start off the year. The Jays have established a strong bullpen core in the major leagues and have done a better job of talent identification and pitcher development over the past few years. Relievers are highly volatile pitchers, and one or two bad outings could make an otherwise good month a horrific one. The performances of relievers, let alone minor league ones, can be highly skewed by variance. Instead of just focusing on results like ERA, evaluating the ways that pitchers get hitters out and their ability to keep runners from getting on base is more important. Honourable Mentions LHP Brendon Little - Buffalo Bisons - 9 IP, 1.00 ERA, 2.53 FIP, 44.4 K%, 22.2 BB%, 1.44 WHIP The enigmatic Brendon Little was demoted down to Buffalo after a disappointing start in the majors, but the lefty made good use of the reset, not allowing a single run until the last day of the month. The walks continue to be an issue; walking over 22 percent of the batters he’s faced is not ideal. Yet, the tantalizing whiffs and strikeout potential are ever-present, as he’s struck out double that. For now, Joe Mantiply and Mason Fluharty have been solid in the majors, but Little might be the first one up if anything happens to them. RHP Aaron Munson - Vancouver Canadians, New Hampshire Fisher Cats - 11 ⅓ IP, 3.97 ERA, 2.90 FIP, 33.3 K%, 13.7 BB%, 1.50 WHIP Aaron Munson pitched well enough to get the call to Double A, and despite a few games where he lost the zone and gave up multiple earned runs, he also had games where he pitched three shutout innings in relief with five strikeouts or more twice. The 2023 19th-rounder was a fixture in the Canadians ‘pen in 2025, and now will try to replicate that success in Double A. Top 5 #5 - RHP Kelena Sauer - Vancouver Canadians - 9 ⅓ IP, 1.93 ERA, 2.62 FIP, 30.2 K%, 11.6 BB%, 1.71 WHIP Kelena Sauer returned from a lost year after undergoing elbow surgery and rehabbing for all of 2025. The 2023 15th-rounder showed interesting stuff in 2024 before the injury, and has looked sharp, pitching to a 1.93 ERA despite bad BABIP luck. Five of his six appearances were scoreless appearances, and despite the rust, he has really impressed. #4 - LHP Carson Myers - Dunedin Blue Jays - 12 ⅓ IP, 4.38 ERA, 1.83 FIP, 38.2 K%, 9.1 BB%, 1.30 WHIP Carson Myers was an undrafted free agent that the Jays signed after the 2025 draft, who pitched to a 3.18 ERA in 10 appearances in 2025 for his pro debut. His walks were a big problem though, as he walked 16.7% of the batters he faced. He’s improved his command immensely, and despite a worse ERA, the process has been significantly better for Myers. He halved his walk rate and has struck out over 38 percent of the batters he’s faced. His low velocity limits his upside, but his lower three-quarters slot is a weird look for hitters. #3 - RHP Holden Wilkerson - Vancouver Canadians - 18.2 IP, 1.93 ERA, 3.31 ERA, 29.1 K%, 8.9 BB%, 1.13 WHIP An 18th-rounder last season out of Virginia Military Institute, Holden Wilkerson showed some flashes of potential in Dunedin, despite some poor results. He has piggybacked off of Johnny King in each of his outings, and they have been one of the hardest duos to face in the minor leagues, similar to Trey Yesavage and Gage Stanifer in 2025. Wilkerson struggled last season, leaking the ball over the plate too often and getting hit hard, but he’s done a good job of striking out hitters and inducing groundballs when he does get hit, while still walking less than 9% of the batters he’s faced. #2 - RHP Conor Larkin - New Hampshire Fisher Cats - 10 ⅓ IP, 0.00 ERA, 2.45 FIP, 30.6 K%, 8.3 BB%, 0.58 WHIP Conor Larkin was the Jays’ ninth-rounder in the 2021 draft and signed for just $77,500 out of Penn State. The now 27-year-old hasn’t made it above Double A yet, but has been a solid reliever in the minors over the past four years. He’s yet to allow a run early on in this minor league season and should get a chance at Triple A sooner than later. He’s struck out over 30 percent of the batters he’s faced, walked just over eight percent, and has had a solid groundball rate of 45.5%. He won’t get on any prospect lists for the Jays, but could pitch some lower-leverage major league innings with his solid velocity, sidearm delivery and high-spin offerings. #1 - LHP - Brendan Cellucci - New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Buffalo Bisons - 10 ⅓ IP, 0.87 ERA, 2.69 FIP, 46.2 K%, 12.8 BB%, 1.16 WHIP Brendan Cellucci was playing in Indy Ball last year and was exceptional, pitching to a 1.96 ERA and striking out 32 batters in 18 innings of work. The Jays took a chance on him, as they’ve spent a lot of time and effort finding Indy Ball darlings. Cellucci rewarded them with a really strong start to the season, striking out over 46% of the batters he faced with a below-average but not bad walk rate. The lefty has done a great job using his sinker-slider combo to keep hitters off balance, and when not striking out hitters, he also has a groundball rate of 62.5% when he does get hit. Although he has below-average velocity, he has solid extension to make up for it. He may be blocked by a litany of lefty reliever options on the 40-man roster, but he’s been an interesting find for the Blue Jays. View the full article

The unraveling of the Minnesota Twins over the past two seasons has been anything but subtle. Payroll was slashed heading into 2024, the 2025 trade deadline turned into a full-scale fire sale, and Derek Falvey exited just before spring training this year. What once looked like a sustainable contender after the 2023 playoff run has instead snowballed into an organization searching for alignment. For a franchise operating under strict payroll limitations, every dollar matters. That reality should push the organization to build a reliable, self-sustaining pitching pipeline. Instead, the Twins have found themselves caught between two philosophies that do not quite meet in the middle. Their development system prioritizes starting pitching depth, while their major league roster construction increasingly demands bullpen solutions they are unwilling to buy. Keeping Pitchers Starting As Long As Possible Minnesota has made it clear that pitching prospects will remain starters for as long as possible. In theory, that approach maximizes value. Starters are harder to find, and developing one internally can provide significant surplus value. But the execution has created a bottleneck. Take Connor Prielipp and Kendry Rojas as examples. There has been outside speculation about potential bullpen futures, yet the organization continues to develop them as starters. Prielipp has flashed promise in his first taste of the big leagues, but there is no certainty that his performance will hold over a full workload. Waiting for that answer delays the ability to address immediate bullpen needs. The Twins have also had success stories. David Festa and Zebby Matthews were not premium draft picks, yet both added velocity and broke out within the system. That is the development model working as intended. However, the reality is less clean. Festa is now dealing with a shoulder injury that could shift his long-term role, while Matthews has struggled to find consistency early this season at Triple-A. The transition from starter to reliever is often reactive rather than proactive. Injuries or underperformance force the issue. That path worked beautifully for Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, and Louis Varland, all of whom saw velocity spikes and became dominant late-inning arms. But those outcomes are the exception, not the rule. Relying on that conversion pipeline year after year is a risky bet. Marco Raya highlights the downside. Developed aggressively as a starter, he moved quickly through the system while rarely facing lineups multiple times. Even after reaching Triple-A at 21 years old, he never established consistency. A late move to the bullpen has not unlocked another level, leaving the organization without clarity on his role or value. Andrew Morris might be the clearest example of the organization being caught in between philosophies at the big-league level. He entered the year looking like the next starter in line for a rotation spot, but instead has been deployed in a long relief role. It is a usage pattern that keeps him stretched out without offering a real opportunity to claim a starting job, while also limiting his ability to adapt to the intensity of shorter bullpen outings. The Twins are hesitant to close the door on his future as a starter, yet they are not committing to that path in a meaningful way. That leaves Morris in a developmental gray area, neither building toward a defined rotation role nor being put in a position to succeed as a true reliever. Not Spending Money on the Bullpen If the development strategy leans heavily toward starting pitching, the roster construction doubles down by avoiding bullpen spending altogether. During Falvey’s tenure, the Twins consistently bypassed the top end of the reliever market. Instead, they relied on minor league deals, waiver claims, and buy-low trades. That philosophy only works if the pipeline consistently produces major league-ready relievers. Right now, it is not. The 2026 bullpen is a reflection of that gap. Taylor Rogers was the most notable addition at $2 million, and he appears to be nearing the end of his effectiveness. Beyond that, the unit is a patchwork of interchangeable pieces without defined roles. The result has been one of the least effective bullpens in baseball. The lack of investment creates compounding pressure. The front office must develop relievers internally, but the system is not designed to produce them quickly. Prospects are stretched as starters, delaying their transition, while injuries to arms like Pablo López and Festa thin the rotation and force even more prospects to remain in starting roles. Meanwhile, the Triple-A bullpen has not provided obvious reinforcements. There is no wave of high-leverage arms ready to step in, and no financial safety net to cover the gap. The Twins are operating with two ideas that make sense independently but clash in practice. Developing starters has value, and avoiding risky bullpen contracts can be justified under payroll constraints. But doing both at the same time without adjustment creates a structural imbalance. Minnesota needs to pick a lane or find a better middle ground. That could mean identifying relievers earlier in the development process, being more aggressive with role changes, or selectively investing in proven bullpen arms to stabilize the roster. Right now, they are asking their system to solve a problem it is not built to address. Until those philosophies align, the Twins will continue to develop pitchers with long-term upside while struggling to get outs in the innings that matter most. How can the Twins fix the pitching development philosophy? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Tyler Schmitt struck out six over five scoreless innings as the Lake Elsinore Storm beat Ontario 4-2, with Victor Duarte driving in three. The Fort Wayne TinCaps edged South Bend 7-6 on two ninth-inning wild pitches, with Braian Salazar fanning five in relief and Lamar King Jr. collecting four hits. Ethan Salas homered yet again but the San Antonio Missions fell 5-4. El Paso jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but was blasted by Albuquerque 19-7. Padres Minor-League Transactions None. Chihuahuas Blown Out Again By Isotopes For the second game in a row, the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas gave up a pair of seven-run innings, this time leading to a 19-7 loss to the host Albuquerque Isotopes. El Paso had a 5-1 lead when the Isotopes scored seven in the fourth and seven in the fifth to claim a 15-5 lead. Right-handed starter Sean Boyle gave up seven of those runs in 3⅔ innings on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts. The Isotopes also had a pair of seven-run innings in a 26-8 loss Friday. San Diego Padres left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui made what was likely his last rehab appearance, pitching the sixth and seventh innings, giving up two runs on one hit and a walk with a strikeout. Matsui, who has a strained left groin, must be activated Monday. He made 11 appearances for El Paso. Mason McCoy went 3-for-5 with an RBI double, Nick Schnell homered and drove in a pair of runs, while Clay Dungan had a bases-loaded double in the five-run first inning. EP_0502.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Sung-Mun Song, 3B 4 0 1 0 1 2 Samad Taylor, LF 5 1 1 0 0 2 Carlos Rodríguez, CF 5 1 1 0 0 1 Mason McCoy, SS 5 1 3 1 0 0 Nate Mondou, DH 4 1 1 1 1 1 Nick Schnell, RF 5 2 2 2 0 3 Marcos Castañon, 1B 3 1 0 0 1 1 Clay Dungan, 2B 4 0 2 3 0 1 Anthony Vilar, C 4 0 1 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Sean Boyle 3 2/3 6 7 7 2 4 1 Misael Tamarez 1/3 3 5 3 3 0 1 Logan Gillaspie 1 4 3 0 0 1 0 Yuki Matsui 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 Alek Jacob 1 2 3 3 1 0 0 Salas Hits 5th Homer, But Missions Come Up Short For the fifth time in seven games, Ethan Salas left the yard. Padres Mission's No. 1 prospect homered for the second game in a row as the Double-A San Antonio Missions fell to the host Tulsa Drillers 5-4. Salas, the 19-year-old who hadn't homered until April 24 and has been hitting out of the leadoff spot, took over the team lead with his fourth homer Friday and added to that total with a solo shot in the seventh inning Saturday that pulled the TinCaps within 5-3. Salas had struck out in his previous two at-bats. Carson Tucker made it 5-4 with his eighth-inning sacrifice fly, but the final four TinCaps were retired in order. Salas, who also has a team-high 14 RBIs, has a .315/.390/.589 slash line in 21 games this year. His homer April 24 was the first in three consecutive games, spilling over to the first game of this series. Tulsa jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning against Missions right-handed starter Ian Koenig, including a three-run homer by Josue De Paula. Luis Verdugo plated the TinCaps' first run with an RBI double in the fourth, but the Drillers got a run back in the bottom of the fourth. Verdugo made it 5-2 with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, then Salas hit his homer in the seventh and Tucker's sac fly trimmed it to 5-4. In addition to Verdugo driving in a pair, Braedon Karpathios went 2-for-4. Leandro Cedeño singled and drew three of the TinCaps' seven walks and scored twice. Fort Wayne had just five hits. Four Missions relievers—right-handers Josh Malliltz, Andrew Moore, Michael Flynn and Sadrac Franco—combined for 4⅓ scoreless innings, with three hits, two walks and six strikeouts. SA_0502.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Ethan Salas, DH 4 1 1 1 1 2 Kai Roberts, CF 5 0 0 0 0 4 Leandro Cedeño, 1B 1 2 1 0 3 0 Tirso Ornelas, LF 4 0 0 0 0 0 Luis Verdugo, 3B 2 1 1 2 1 0 Braedon Karpathios, RF 4 0 2 0 0 1 Carson Tucker, SS 2 0 0 1 1 0 Ryan Jackson, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 3 Chris Sargent, C 3 0 0 0 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Ian Koenig 3 2/3 4 5 0 0 2 1 Josh Mallitz 1 1/3 0 0 0 2 2 0 Andrew Moore 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 Michael Flynn 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Sadrac Franco 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 Down To Final Strike, TinCaps Pull Off Ninth-Inning Rally One strike away from suffering a loss, the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps pulled off an improbable victory by capitalizing on a bout of wildness to score twice in the top of the ninth inning for a 7-6 triumph over the host South Bend Cubs. Fort Wayne won for the fourth straight game, its longest streak since April 29-May 3 of last year. After the Cubs took a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the eighth on a bases-loaded walk, the first two TinCaps grounded out to begin the top of the ninth. Alex McCoy drew a five-pitch walk, Jack Costello a four-pitch free pass and Kavares Tears, after fouling off a 3-2 pitch, earned a seven-pitch walk to load the bases. With pinch-hitter Carlos E. Rodriguez up, the pitcher uncorked two wild pitches, bringing in the tying and go-ahead runs. Right-handed reliever Kleiber Olmedo, who came on to begin the eighth, overcame another walk to induce a game-ending double play. Costello went deep for the second time in as many at-bats, hitting a solo shot in the second inning after homering in his final trip Friday, while Lamar King Jr.—Padre's Mission's No. 13 prospect—went 4-for-5 with a run scored and Jake Cunningham drove in a pair of runs. King's four-hit game was the first in 153 games between Low-A and High-A. McCoy doubled in the fifth inning to extend his on-base streak to 21 games. Dylan Grego reached base three times, including twice via walks. The TinCaps drew eight walks. Left-hander Jamie Hitt lasted just 2⅓ innings, throwing 76 pitches (44 strikes), allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks with four strikeouts. FW_0502.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Jake Cunningham, LF 5 0 1 2 0 1 Zach Evans, 3B 5 0 1 0 0 0 Lamar King Jr., 1B 5 1 4 0 0 0 Kasen Wells, CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 Alex McCoy, DH 4 1 1 0 1 0 Jack Costello, 1B 3 2 1 2 1 1 Kavares Tears, RF 3 1 1 0 2 1 Oswaldo Linares, C 4 0 0 0 0 1 Carlos Rodriguez, C 0 0 0 0 1 0 Jonathan Vastine, SS 4 1 0 0 1 2 Dylan Grego, 2B 2 1 1 1 2 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jamie Hitt 2 1/3 3 3 2 3 4 0 Will Varmette 1 2/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 Bernard Jose 1 1 2 2 2 2 0 Braian Salazar 2 0 1 1 1 5 0 Kleiber Olmedo 2 1 0 0 2 2 0 Victor Duarte Snaps Late Tie, Tyler Schmitt Stellar In Storm Win Victor Duarte drove in three runs, including a two-run double in the eighth inning that broke a tie, giving the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm a 4-2 victory over the host Ontario Tower Buzzers. The Storm won despite having just three hits, although they drew nine walks. The game was tied 2-2 entering the top of the eighth when Truitt Madonna walked and Justin DeCriscio put down a perfect bunt to third that went for a single, but the third baseman threw away, sending Madonna to third. Duarte hit the next pitch for an opposite-field double to right field, scoring Madonna and DeCriscio and a 4-2 Storm lead. Right-handed reliever Carson Swilling pitched the final two innings for his first professional save. That came after right-handed starter Tyler Schmitt allowed just two hits in a season-high five scoreless innings, walking one and striking out six. It was by far the best performance of his brief pro career. Schmitt was the Padres' 17th-round draft choice out of Illinois last year, but made his pro debut this season. Schmitt entered the game with a 9.75 ERA in four games, three starts, covering 12 innings. Ryan Wideman had a two-out triple, his third of the season, in the top of the third, which scored George Bilecki, who had drawn a leadoff walk. Duarte had a sacrifice fly in the sixth to put the Storm up 2-0. He also walked and reached on catcher's interference. Ontario scored twice in the bottom of the sixth. LE_0502.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Ryan Wideman, CF 5 0 1 1 0 1 Bradley Frye, 3B 4 1 0 0 1 3 Truitt Madonna, DH 3 1 0 0 2 2 Justin DeCriscio, 2B 4 1 1 0 0 1 Victor Duarte, C 1 0 1 3 1 0 Jose Verdugo, SS 2 0 0 0 2 2 George Bilecki, RF 1 1 0 0 2 1 Yoiber Ocopio, 1B 3 0 0 0 1 2 Conner Westenburg, LF 3 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Tyler Schmitt 5 2 0 0 1 6 0 Brandon Langley 2 1 2 2 2 2 0 Carson Swilling 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kash Mayfield: DNP Ethan Salas: 1-for-4, HR, RBI, BB, 2 K Kruz Schoolcraft: DNP Bradgley Rodriguez: DNP Humberto Cruz: DNP Miguel Mendez: DNP Ty Harvey: DNP Jorge Quintana: DNP Kale Fountain: DNP Ryan Wideman: 1-for-5, 3B, RBI, K Jagger Haynes: DNP Lamar King Jr.: 4-for-5, R Romeo Sanabria: DNP Truitt Madonna: 0-for-3, R, 2 BB, 2 K Michael Salina: DNP Garrett Hawkins: DNP Kavares Tears: 1-for-3, 2B, R, 2 BB, K Deivid Coronil: DNP Francis Pena: DNP Bryan Balzer: DNP View the full article

MIAMI, FL — Maybe we have not seen the best of Max Meyer as a starting pitcher quite yet. Meyer's efficiency was excellent on Saturday, and for the first time in his career, he completed seven innings in a 4-0 Marlins win. Going into the game, Meyer had not even reached six innings in any start this season—the only starter in the Marlins rotation yet to do so. For Marlins manager Clayton McCullough, it was a no-brainer to stick with him considering the Philadelphia Phillies had not scored and his pitch count was only up to 71 through six. "The way he was throwing the ball, he was so economical," McCullough said after the game. "He just had been ahead of so many people and with him having such a diverse repertoire, he's got so many options to go to throughout a game. I think the way that he was throwing the ball, he really hadn't been stressed a whole lot to send him back out for the seventh up. It wasn't a tough call." Meyer finished his outing going seven shutout innings, allowing just one hit and two walks. The lone hit allowed came from Garrett Stubbs in the top of the third. He also struck out seven in the process. "It's fun to go seven and help the team out save the 'pen a little bit in a four-game series," Meyer said. "I felt good, but obviously, the only thing I care about was trying to keep the team in the game and get the win at the end of the day." Meyer's incorporation of the sweeper has been crucial to his success in 2026. Ahead of Saturday's game, Meyer was throwing it 26% of the time and it was his most-used pitch again in this start (27% usage). He generated five of his 10 whiffs and recorded four of his seven strikeouts on that pitch. "Sweeper is similar velocity [to the slider], a little slower, but it moves at a totally different plane," Meyer said. "If they are sitting on spin, you got to pick which spin you're going to sit on. That's helped a lot, but I love that pitch. It's one of my favorite pitches. I'm just so happy with all the other pitches being around the zone too and competitive. Feels good having like a real fastball now with some ride on it." Through seven starts this season, Meyer now has a 2.68 ERA, 2.98 FIP, 9.73 K/9 and 3.16 BB/9. These are all career-bests for the former number three pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. "I think Max is a different pitcher than he has been in the past," McCullough said. "He's got more weapons now than he's had. They're better and play off each other very well. Him having the ability to run his two-seam on righties, to continue to open up the spin lane on the outer half, and he can go down below versus left with the breaking balls. His changeup is a pitch that he can use as well." Relievers Anthony Bender and Andrew Nardi followed Meyer. They both threw shutout innings, not allowing a hit. It marked the Marlins' first one-hitter since May 18, 2019. It was also their first shutout of the Phillies since August 13, 2024. The Marlins are the only National League club to have four different starters go at least seven innings in a game this season (only the New York Yankees have done it in the AL). The Marlins offense wasted no time giving Meyer some run support, as in the bottom of the third inning, with the bases loaded, both Agustín Ramírez and Connor Norby worked walks, driving in a run each. In the bottom of the fifth, Xavier Edwards hit his second home run of the season, going 392 feet to right field, extending the lead, 3-0. In nine games batting in the cleanup spot this season, Edwards has a .367/.513/.567/1.080 slash line. Otto Lopez capped off the Marlins' four-run performance with an infield RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. With the win, the Marlins are 16-17, once again, a game under .500. Sunday will not be a rubber match as this is a wrap-around series (another game awaits on Monday night). Jesús Luzardo, a Florida native and former Marlins pitcher, will face Chris Paddack on Sunday at 1:40 pm. View the full article

Box Score SP: Connor Prielipp 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (91 pitches, 59 strikes (65%)) Home Runs: Byron Buxton (10) Bottom 3 WPA (via FanGraphs): Luis Garcia (-0.58), Anthony Banda (-0.17), Ryan Jeffers (-0.09) Win Probability Chart (via BaseballSavant) The Twins took one in the chin Friday evening against the visiting Blue Jays, but Saturday afternoon was a beautiful day for baseball and for some revenge. Minnesota sent their young southpaw Connor Prielipp out to silence the Toronto bats, while Toronto relied on the "familiar to Target Field" mustache of Dylan Cease. Neither pitcher had allowed a homerun in 2026, but with the sun out and the launch pad open for summer business, finally, a pitchers' duel was not going to happen. Buck Truck First to Launch After Prielipp took care of the Blue Jays in order in the top of the first, Cease tried to sneak a 1-2 fastball up and over Byron Buxton's leadoff bat. Buxton instead sent the ball up and over the right field limestone for his 10th home run of the season! Rough Second for Prielipp...and Guerrero Jr. Prielipp found himself with an early advantage, but that wouldn't last long. Connor surrendered the first home run of his career on a changeup to Lenyn Sosa to knot the game at one apiece. Just a few batters later, Miles Straw launched a 3-2 fastball even higher and deeper to left to put the Blue Jays out in front by a run. Kody Clemens laced a single to right to lead off the bottom of the second inning, and he advanced to second on a walk to Luke Keaschall. With two on and nobody out, Matt Wallner stepped up to the plate for the first time since Wednesday in hopes of at a minimum advancing the runners. Wallner indeed accomplished the minimum, with a dribbling grounder to the right side of the diamond. Now with runners at second and third and one out, Brooks Lee found himself looking down the barrel of a 1-2 count. Contact of any kind would probably score a run, and Lee managed to make the minimal contact needed yet again with a slow grounder to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base. Guerrero couldn't catch Clemens at home, so he instead tried to feed Cease at first to nab Lee. Instead, the ball scooted by everyone and into foul territory far enough to allow Keaschall to score and to put the Twins back on top at 3-2! Prielipp took care of business through five innings, as he continues to navigate his restricted pitch count in his rookie season. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Tristan Gray led things off with a single. After advancing to second, Trevor Larnach stayed hot and singled in some insurance to make it 4-2. No Lead is Safe for the Twinkies In previous seasons, an insurance run might have helped. With four innings of bullpen work ahead of them, Twins fans knew it wouldn't be enough. Boy were they correct. Today's implosion began immediately when the unstoppable force that is Kazuma Okamoto took Justin Topa deep, pulling within one. Kody Funderburk came in, and despite the inexcusable walk to a 0-28 Davis Schneider, he managed to get the Twins into the eighth inning still nursing a 4-3 lead. Luis Garcia got the call for the top of the eighth, and he didn't retire a batter. A walk and three singles later and Garcia and the lead were both gone. Anthony Banda came in next, and with runners on first and second, Banda misplayed a bad hop through his wickets for a single up the middle. With the bases loaded, a rattled Banda walked Straw on four pitches to make it 6-4. Schneider came up with the bases still loaded, and Banda did what pitchers haven't been able to do for weeks...get Schneider a hit. Schneider's double scored two more, and then Brandon Valenzuela took the first pitch he saw deep into the bullpen to make it 11-4 with still no outs in the eighth inning. What else can you say? This is the 2026 Minnesota Twins. The blow nead allowed John Klein to come in and throw a perfect ninth inning in his major league debut, leaving 30,000 of his hometown fans wondering why he didn't pitch the eighth. Congrats to Klein, and may he be a part of the solution before it's too late. What’s Next? The Twins look to salvage a series split and a season one-up over Toronto on Sunday. Twins righty Joe Ryan (2-3, 3.76 ERA) aims to keep the Twins bullpen off of the field as long as possible in hopes of securing a victory. The Blue Jays will counter with young righty Trey Yesavage (1-0, 0.00 ERA) who will be making his fifth career start. George Springer had to leave Saturday's ballgame early when a Prielipp slider hit him directly on his previously broken left big toe, so he is likely to miss the finale. First pitch is scheduled for a somewhat odd home morning start at 11:45am CDT. Postgame Interviews (Coming Soon!) Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet TUES WED THUR FRI SAT TOT Orze 0 28 0 33 0 61 Banda 0 22 14 0 18 54 Garcia 23 0 0 9 18 50 Funderburk 15 0 0 0 14 29 Topa 0 0 12 0 10 22 Rogers 0 13 0 8 0 21 Morris 0 0 19 0 0 19 Klein 0 0 0 0 12 12 View the full article

The San Diego Padres are closer to no longer being under the control of the Seidler family, which announced an agreement Saturday to sell the MLB franchise to Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones. The deal is subject to MLB approval. The announcement comes 16 days after initial reports of the sale first surfaced. The sale price is expected to be $3.9 billion, which smashes the previous record for an MLB franchise of $2.42 billion, the amount Steve Cohen paid in 2020 for the New York Mets. “I’m thrilled that after a highly competitive process, Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano will become the next majority owners of the Padres,” Padres chairman John Seidler said in a released statement. “When I became control person, my goal was to continue building on our recent success in pursuit of a World Series Championship for the city of San Diego and our faithful fans. Now, as I pass the baton to Kwanza and José, I do so with full confidence that they share that vision, as well as the Padres deep commitment to San Diego. It’s what the team, our fans, and the community deserve. “Our family loves this team. This is a bittersweet moment for us as we reflect on what the Padres have accomplished since my brother Peter became the steward of the franchise. I congratulate Kwanza, José, and the Padres, and wish them nothing but success. We look forward to a smooth transition.” Feliciano and Jones issued a joint statement: “The Padres are more than a baseball team; they are a unifying force in San Diego, rooted in community, connection, and belonging. As life and business partners, and as a family, we are honored to lead this next chapter together. “We have worked hard for everything we have achieved, and we have built it together. We see that same spirit in this team and its fans, and we know what it takes to win. “We are committed to showing up, listening, and earning the trust of this community, while building on the strong foundation established by the Seidler family. “This is about more than baseball — it’s about boosting the pride, energy, and connection that define the Padres, investing in community, deepening belonging, and ensuring this team remains accessible and endures for generations. We are all in — with the goal of bringing a World Series championship to San Diego.” Forbes recently valued the Padres at $3.1 billion, a 39% increase from the same time last year. The Padres were sold to a group led by Peter Seidler and Ron Fowler in 2012 for $800 million. That included $200 million in debt that previous owner John Moores had accrued in a recent local-TV deal. The trust of the late Peter Seidler held a 24% share of the Padres and other members of the family held a combined 25% share, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. John Seidler, one of Peter's brothers, became the control person early in 2025. Peter Seidler died in November 2024. He had survived two battles with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and had just had a procedure that September. Feliciano, who is expected to be the control person, and Jones are expected to purchase up to 40% of the team, which a group of other investors. Those minority investors are reportedly to include Alfredo Harp Helu, who had a 20% share of the team under the Seidler family. Other reported partners include the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and another group involving former San Diego Chargers quarterback Drew Breese and Vuori founder Joe Kudla. Sycuan, which operates a casino in San Diego, must undergo further scrutiny if it owns a certain percentage of the team. The 53-year-old Feliciano has an estimated net worth of $3.9 million, according to Forbes. Born in Bayaman, Puerto Rico, the 53-year-old Feliciano attended Princeton and earned his masters of business administration at Stanford. Clearlake, with headquarters in Santa Monica, was founded in 2006 by Feliciano and Behdad Eghbali. The company is the 12th-largest private-equity firm in the world, having managed more than $45 billion in capital, as of June. In 2022, Feliciano and Clearlake were part of the group that purchased the men’s soccer team Chelsea of the English Premier League. The next step in the sale is for Feliciano and Jones to be vetted by MLB, then go up for a vote of the other 29 owners. The new group must be approved by 75% of the owners (23 votes). For ceremonious reasons, that vote is traditionally unanimous. That vote could take place soon. The next owners meeting is scheduled for June. View the full article

Blue Jays Affiliate Overview (April 30-May 1) Triple-A Buffalo Bisons Series vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees): 1-3 Season Record: 14-17 Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats Series vs. Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets): 4-1 Season Record: 14-9 High-A Vancouver Canadians Series vs. Hillsboro Hops (Arizona Diamondbacks): 1-3 Season Record: 10-15 Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays Series vs. Jupiter Hammerheads (Miami Marlins): 1-3 Season Record: 10-15 Triple-A Buffalo Bisons Season Record: 14-17 Series Opponent: Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees) April 30: Buffalo took on a tough challenge Thursday, having to face one of the New York Yankees’ top pitching prospects, Carlos Lagrange. After falling down a run in the first, the Bisons jumped on Lagrange in the third and fourth innings, with an RBI double from Carlos Mendoza and an RBI single from Josh Rivera. Austin Voth would exit the game in the fourth inning after a suboptimal performance, only pitching 3.2 innings, giving up seven hits, and surrendering two runs. With the bullpen into the game, the Bisons allowed runs to trickle across home plate. Brendon Little gave up one run in the seventh inning from an RBI single. He had one of his worst outings since being demoted from the major league team. He was touched up for a hit and walked two. Tanner Andrews then replaced Little and got tagged for a solo home run to right field. Down two runs and headed into the ninth inning, Buffalo got a rally going. Rivera doubled home Willie MacIver, and then William Simoneit hit a ball to center that was misplayed, allowing Rivera to score. The Bisons almost took the lead on the play as well, but Simoneit was thrown out at home going for the little league home run, after the error on Spencer Jones. In the bottom of the 10th, Chase Lee couldn't keep the game going, as Jonathan Ornelas walked it off and gave the RailRiders a 5-4 win. May 1, Game 1: It was another doubleheader for Buffalo on Friday afternoon. Chad Dallas took the mound for the Bisons and had his longest outing of the season. He pitched 4.2 innings, only giving up five hits and two runs. He didn't walk anyone and struck out two. He used his four-seam fastball and sinker (93-94 mph) a lot more this game than in past starts, giving the appearance that he is getting more comfortable after missing last year recovering from Tommy John surgery. The bats couldn't take advantage of Dallas keeping the Bisons in the game, though. They would only get three baserunners all game and had no chance to take back the lead from the RailRiders, falling 2-0 in the doubleheader-shortened game. May 1, Game 2: In the second game of the doubleheader, Grant Rogers was on the mound for the Bisons and actually outperformed game one starter, Chad Dallas. Rogers gave up a lot of hits (seven) and walked one, but was able to pitch around the traffic. He would only surrender three runs (two earned) over his five innings. Unlike in game one, the bats were dialed in for this game. Ismael Munguia, who was called up to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, had himself a nice day at the plate, going 2-4 with a run scored. The Bisons broke out on top in the first innings with a massive five runs to open the game, highlighted by Josh Rivera's three-run, bases-clearing triple. William Simoneit added two runs, with his first home run of the season at Triple A. Yariel Rodríguez pitched a flawless seventh, getting a one, two, three inning and earning the save, as Buffalo won 8-3. Double-A New Hampshire Season Record: 14-9 Series vs. Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets) April 30: In the Thursday game between New Hampshire and Binghamton, Adrian Pinto put the Fisher Cats up one from the start with a leadoff home run. Binghamton tied it back up in the fourth inning off a sacrifice fly against New Hampshire starting pitcher Gage Stanifer. Stanifer did not have his fastball command at all in this one, and things went south in the fifth inning. Stanifer managed to get through four pretty easily despite the fastball, but in the fifth, he walked two and gave up an RBI single before leaving. Two more runs would be charged to Stanifer, and his final line was four innings, four hits, two earned runs, six walks, and six strikeouts – some good mixed in with his bad fastball command on the day. Eddie Micheletti Jr. added an RBI single and Pinto an RBI groundout, but it wasn't enough as New Hampshire lost this one 6-3. May 1: The Friday night game started off with another huge inning from the Fisher Cats. Jace Bohrofen drove in a run with a single, Sean Keys doubled him home, Jay Harry and Nick Goodwin added RBI doubles, and Jorge Burgos finished the run-scoring outburst with an RBI single. Six runs had crossed the plate in the bottom of the first for New Hampshire. In the seventh inning, New Hampshire piled on again, this time with Aaron Parker and Jackson Hornung launching solo home runs. Alex Amalfi got the three-inning save, and New Hampshire won an easy one, this time 11-4. High-A Vancouver Season Record: 10-15 Series vs. Hillsboro Hops (Arizona Diamondbacks) April 30: The sloppy play continues to rear its ugly head for the Canadians, as despite excellent pitching performances from Johnny King and Holden Wilkerson, who both pitched four strong innings, they ended up losing in extra innings once again. With two outs left in the top of the eighth, Wilkerson induced a hard hit grounder to Dub Gleed, who was unable to field it, leading to two runs scoring for the Hops. In the bottom of that inning, Tucker Toman walked, then advanced to third on a passed ball, before Alexis Hernandez walked, leading to runners on the corners with no outs. Toman made the first out at home plate on a J.R. Freethy grounder to the pitcher, but Jacob Sharp got the first run for Vancouver on a sac fly, and Freethy was able to get to third. Matt Scannell walked, and with Manuel Beltre at the dish, Scannell got hung up between the bases, allowing Freethy to score in the distraction. This brought the game to extra innings, and Jonathan Todd was able to get two outs but ended up loading the bases before throwing a wild pitch, allowing two runners to score with another error from Sharp this time. The Canadians couldn’t capitalize on their own ghost runner in the 10th, leading to a 4-2 loss. May 1: The Canadians once again took it to extras. This time, they took an early deficit, as Austin Cates pitched well but allowed two homers, which gave the Hops a three-run lead. The Canadians cut the lead to one as Hayden Gilliland crushed his first homer of the season in the fifth inning to score Beltre and himself. Gilly once again took to the plate in the bottom of the seventh and once again launched a ball over the fence, tying the game up in the seventh. The score remained unchanged once again, with Kelena Sauer and Carson Pierce pitching four and a half shutout frames, leading to Matt Scannell leading it off in the bottom of the 10th inning, where he walked it off with a double in the gap, finally breaking the Canadians’ losing streak. Single-A Dunedin Season Record: 10-15 Series vs. Jupiter Hammerheads (Miami Marlins) April 30: Dariel Ramon led the charge offensively for the Blue Jays, as the diminutive hitter hit his third home run of the season already, scoring three runs and putting the Jays up early. Blaine Bullard continued to impress with an RBI single the same inning, giving the Jays a 4-0 lead. Dayne Pengelly didn’t allow a run despite four walks, and Yondrei Rojas looked good in his first rehab appearance. Things fell apart in the eighth inning as the Hammerheads got on the board with a two-run double against Lluveres Severino, and a disastrous ninth inning from 14th rounder Noah Palmese led to five runs scoring for the Hammerheads, losing the lead for good. With the bases loaded in the ninth, the Jays had a chance to come back, but Victor Arias grounded into a fielder’s choice double play, with Cresswell’s aggressive baserunning to home ending the game as he was hung up between third and home. May 1: The Jays got to an early lead after loading the bases in the first, and Aldo Gaxiola knocked in two runs with a single. However, Brandon Barriera did not have it in this game’s start, as he didn’t get out of the second inning, walking three batters, allowing four runs and not striking out anyone. The 'pen didn’t fare much better, as they gave up a total of 10 runs in an absolute rout of the Dunedin Blue Jays. The Jays only struck out four batters on the night, and gave up fourteen runs in total, and although they got a four-run scoring outburst in the bottom of the eighth, they were still down 11-6, before the Hammerheads got a three-run homer in the top of the ninth for extra insurance. View the full article

We're bringing you a bonus episode of Fish Unfiltered this week! Ely Sussman and Nate Karzmer react to the call-up of right-hander Josh Ekness, then do an overview of the first month-plus of the 2026 Miami Marlins season. Which players have boosted their stock since Opening Day and which ones have us most concerned? You can find Fish Unfiltered and Fish On First LIVE on the Fish On First YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your pods. The Marlins completed April with a 15-16 record, sitting in second place in the National League East division. The historic start to Liam Hicks' sophomore season has been a bright spot. Hicks has already exceeded his home run total from 2025 while driving in more runs than any other MLB catcher ever has at this point on the calendar. Otto López and Xavier Edwards have also been in NL batting title contention, forming arguably the best middle infield in the sport. Sandy Alcantara is stabilizing Miami's starting rotation, Janson Junk is comfortably holding onto his own rotation spot, and John King and Michael Petersen are impressing out of the bullpen. After being the Marlins' best right-handed hitter as a rookie, Heriberto Hernández slumped so severely last month that he's been demoted to Triple-A Jacksonville. Although there's no imminent threat of Agustín Ramírez or Jakob Marsee getting sent down, they have each taken significant steps back in terms of both results and underlying stats. Chris Paddack is easily the rotation's weakest link and Anthony Bender has been far too inconsistent to be trusted in high-leverage situations. During the month of May, Ely predicts that Robby Snelling will make his major league debut. Nate predicts that former first-round draft pick Jacob Berry will debut and that Kyle Stowers will rediscover his power stroke with five home runs. View the full article

MIAMI, FL — Following the Miami Marlins' 6-5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, the team optioned left-handed pitcher Cade Gibson to Triple-A Jacksonville. The corresponding move was selecting the contract of Fish On First's No. 20 prospect, Josh Ekness. A hard-throwing right-hander selected by the Marlins in the 12th round of the 2023 MLB Draft, Ekness told reporters that he received a call Friday night at around 11:45 pm. "They were telling me I needed to come sign some paperwork for my passport, because I had an appointment I needed to get for that. Had just been putting it off for years, and they had me sign a bunch of papers, and all of a sudden he's got one more and he slaps a sheet down, saying, 'Congrats, you're gonna be a big leaguer.' Caught me a bit off guard, but definitely excited to be here." This season with Jacksonville, Ekness has a 5.68 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 14.92 K/9 and 4.26 BB/9 in 12 ⅔ innings pitched. The timing of this call-up is unusual as he has allowed seven runs in his last 3 ⅔ innings pitched. Before that rough stretch, though, he had allowed only one earned run and struck out 15 in nine innings of work. Across 142 career innings in the Marlins MiLB system, Ekness owns a 3.30 ERA and 3.28 FIP. The 24-year-old reliever boasts a 70-grade fastball, which in his most recent outing on Thursday topped out at 97.4 mph and averaged 96.8 mph. Along with the fastball, he throws a sinker, slider and sweeper. While there is no questioning the quality of his stuff, Ekness has room to improve in the control department. "I think mainly putting an emphasis on the execution part and being more external has helped me kind of limit some of the bigger misses and uncompetitive misses helped me just get focused on getting ahead and staying ahead in counts," Ekness said. "Usually, I'm pretty good at putting guys away when I get to the counts, but I just needed to be efficient and get to those counts to have that opportunity." Ekness' role on the team will be interesting. He has been used in all sorts of situations during his rise through the minors. He is particularly effective against right-handed batters—none of them have recorded an extra-base hit against him since 2024. "He has been stretched out some and gone multiple innings," Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. "I think right now that's how we'll look to use him. What maybe is best for that particular day and where the overall group is, but it is important that guys can come up here and do a variety of things." Health permitting, fellow 2023 draftees left-hander Thomas White and outfielder Kemp Alderman will contribute to the Marlins this season. However, Ekness is the first member of that draft class to reach the big leagues. The Marlins 40-man roster is now full. Game two between the Marlins and Phillies is at 4:10 pm on Saturday. View the full article

Newly added to the Marlins roster, right-hander Josh Ekness speaks with the media about earning his first big league opportunity and his mindset on the mound. Ekness is ranked 20th on the Fish On First Top 30.View the full article

The Toronto Blue Jays' farm system has produced some impact bats in recent years. Players like Addison Barger and Davis Schneider played key roles during the club's 2025 World Series run, while homegrown stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk remain central to the current core. At the minor league level, however, the overall picture hasn't been as strong. As a system, the Blue Jays rank near the bottom in strikeout rate, on-base percentage, and wOBA while having the lowest exit velocity in affiliated baseball (where Statcast data is available). Some of that can be attributed to the recent success of the big league team and having fewer early-round draft picks, but it doesn’t fully explain the lack of impact production across the system. Even so, there are still reasons for optimism. Here, we will highlight the hitters who have stood out and forced their way onto the radar early in the season. Honourable Mentions Tucker Toman, 2B/3B (A+): 18 G, .311/.456/.492, 2 HR, 19.0 BB%, 27.8 K%, 170 wRC+ It's good to see some success from Toman, who struggled early in his minor league career. He’s abandoned switch-hitting and is now exclusively batting left-handed, and it's a change that is paying off. The underlying profile still raises some questions: a 65% groundball rate and a .447 BABIP suggest regression is likely. Still, the improved plate discipline and emerging power are real positives for Toman and bode well for him going forward. Josh Kasevich, SS (AAA): 26 G, .283/.365/.424, 1 HR, 10.6 BB%, 11.5 K%, 115 wRC+ Kasevich was one of the biggest standouts in spring training, and he’s carried that into the season with steady production. He leads all Blue Jays minor leaguers in doubles (8), owns a system-best 5.2% swinging-strike rate, and has even shown more aggressiveness on the bases after failing to successfully steal a base in 2025. With his profile, he’s firmly on the shortlist to make his MLB debut later this season. Peyton Williams, 1B (A/A+): 19 G, .339/.476/.508, 1 HR, 20.7 BB%, 14.6 K %, 172 wRC+ Williams has bounced back nicely after a disappointing 2025 season. The Blue Jays sent him back to Dunedin to start the year to help him reset and refine his approach, and so far, the results have been encouraging. He’s already moved back up to Vancouver, and he's showing a much more refined approach, walking more than he’s striking out while dramatically improving his contact ability (7.8% SwStr%, down from 15.6%). If that contact gains hold, the power he already possesses could allow him to get back on track and move quickly through the farm system. Top 3 #3 - Blaine Bullard, OF (A): 20 GP, .234/.322/.455 4 HR, 14 SB, 9.9 BB%, 36.3 K%, 109 wRC+ No first-year player has made more of an impact in the system than Bullard. The Blue Jays look sharp for having given the 12th-round pick an over-slot bonus in the 2025 draft, and he’s off and running. Literally. The speed is a true weapon, as he’s already accumulated a system-high 14 stolen bases through just 20 games played. Pair that with him hitting four home runs, and the power/speed combination immediately stands out. Bullard ranked 14th on Jays Centre's top prospects list coming into 2026, and if he can keep up this pace, he’s going to be much higher on our list by season's end. The strikeout rate (36.3%) is the clear concern, and it's what keeps him at number three in this piece, but there is no doubt that Bullard has been one of the most dynamic players in the system this month. #2 - Carter Cunningham, 1B/OF (A+): 23 GP, .299/.431/.609, 6 HR, 2 SB. 13.8 BB%, 25.7 K%, 185 wRC+ At 25 years old and in High A, it's time for Cunningham to dominate, and so far, he has. The 2024 10th-round pick has been on a tear to begin the 2026 season. He’s tapped into his power in a meaningful way. His 49% fly ball rate is a career high, and paired with a 53% pull rate, it is clear he’s made an intentional swing change, which is how hitters turn their raw power into game power. The results speak for themselves: his 23 RBI lead all Blue Jays minor leaguers. Just as importantly, he’s improved his contact skills, cutting his swinging-strike rate and increasing his contact rate, without sacrificing impact. He’s turned himself into a dynamic hitter, and the next step will be proving it against upper-level pitching, which will come quickly if this power binge continues. #1 - Sean Keys, 1B/3B (AA): 21 GP, .321/.436/.705, 9 HR, 1 SB, 11.7 BB%, 25.5 K%, 184 wRC+ In a system that has struggled to generate offensive impact, Keys has been the exception. After setting the Vancouver Canadians home run record in 2025, Keys picked up right where he left off, this time in Double A. His nine home runs not only lead the Blue Jays system, but all of Double A, and they're coming with authority. At 6-foot-1, 232 lbs, Keys has the build of an elite power hitter. He won’t maintain the 50+ home run pace he’s on, but it isn't a fluke stretch. The power is real, and it's showing up consistently, even in cold weather conditions in the Northeast. Keys is quickly turning himself into one of the most impactful power bats in the system. No hitter in the system has matched his combination of power, production, and impact, making him the clear choice at the top spot. What Keys is doing is impossible to ignore. For more on the slugging infielder, Jays Centre's Cory Sparks recently made a great video, which you can watch here. All stats up-to-date through games on April 30. View the full article

Chicago Cubs Minor League Report - May 1 Triple-A Iowa Cubs Series at St. Paul Saints (Minnesota Twins): Tied, 2–2 Season Record: 15–15 Double-A Knoxville Smokies Series at Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels): Tied, 2-2 Season Record: 12–13 High-A South Bend Cubs Series vs. Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego Padres): TinCaps lead, 3-1 Season Record: 12–10 Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Series vs. Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals): Pelicans lead, 4-0 Season Record: 13–12 Triple-A: Iowa Cubs Season Record: 15–15 Series Opponent: St. Paul Saints (13–17) Series Standing: Tied, 2-2 May 1: The Iowa Cubs evened their series at the St. Paul Saints with a 6-5 comeback victory on Friday night at CHS Field. Jonathan Long (3-for-5) opened the scoring in the first with an RBI-double but the Saints equaled the tally in the home half of the inning. The Cubs would regain the lead in the second on James Triantos’ (0-for-4) RBI-groundout. The hosts went back in front in the third by pushing three runs across to take a 4-2 lead and increased their advantage with another run in the fourth. The I-Cubs made it a one-run game by scoring two in the fifth, thanks to another home run from Kevin Alcántara (2-for-4), his 10th of the campaign, a two-run shot. Alcántara would then provide the biggest swing of the ballgame in the eighth, driving in two more with a double to give Iowa the 6-5 lead late. Gabe Klobosits worked a scoreless ninth, striking out a pair, to record his second save of the season. Zac Leigh earned his first win of the season, retiring all four batters he faced, picking up three punchouts. Double-A: Knoxville Smokies Season Record: 12–13 Series Opponent: Rocket City Trash Pandas (11–14) Series Standing: Tied, 2-2 May 1: The Knoxville Smokies evened their series at the Rocket City Trash Pandas with a dominant 6-1 victory on Friday night at Toyota Field. Carter Trice (1-for-5) gave the Smokies a 1-0 lead with his first home run of the year in the third. The Trash Pandas tied the game in the fifth with their first run of the ballgame. Knoxville took control of the contest with two runs in the sixth, on an Andy Garriola (1-for-4) solo shot and a two-run double from Karson Simas (1-for-2). The Smokies added three more in the seventh to go ahead 6-1, all coming off the bat of Owen Ayers (1-for-5), who crushed a three-run blast for his second of the season. Jake Knapp took no decision in his start, allowing one run on one hit over 4 1/3 innings of work, whiffing four batters. Tyler Ras picked up the win in relief, tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings, yielding three hits and striking out one. High-A: South Bend Cubs Season Record: 12–10 Series Opponent: Fort Wayne TinCaps (10–15) Series Standing: Trail, 1-3 May 1: The South Bend Cubs dropped their third-straight contest, falling 6-2 to the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Friday night. The TinCaps claim at least a series split with the win. The Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the second through sacrifice flies from Justin Stransky (1-for-2) and Kane Kepley (1-for-2). Fort Wayne cut the lead in half with a run in the fourth and would later take a 4-2 advantage with three runs in the seventh. The visitors would add two more in the ninth and South Bend would go down in order in the home half of the inning to end the game. Brooks Caple got the start for the Cubs but did not factor into the decision. Caple worked three scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out two. Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans Season Record: 13–12 Series Opponent: Columbia Fireflies (11–14) Series Standing: Lead, 4-0 May 1: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans claimed a series victory by winning their fourth-straight ballgame, 8-7 in walkoff fashion, over the Columbia Fireflies. The Fireflies took a 1-0 lead after one but the Pelicans grabbed their first lead of the game with four runs in the second. Alexis Hernandez (1-for-4) cleared the bases with a three-run double and Alexey Lumpuy (2-for-5) drove in another with a single. Columbia cut the lead to one with two runs in the fifth but Myrtle Beach got both of those runs back in the home half of the frame on Logan Poteet’s (2-for-4) two-run shot, his third of the season. The visitors took their first lead of the contest with four runs in the seventh but Jose Escobar (1-for-4) leveled the game at 7-7 with an RBI-triple in the bottom of the inning. After the Fireflies were held scoreless in the ninth, Ty Southisene (1-for-4) drew a walk to start the inning and would make it to third on a pair of wild pitches. Michael Carico (0-for-2) was intentionally walked, bringing Poteet to the plate, who drove in his third run of the game with a single, ending the ballgame. Mason McGwire got the start for the Pelicans, but did not factor into the decision. McGwire allowed one run on four hits over four innings of work, striking out four. Eli Jerzembeck earned his first win of the season by working the final two innings of the game, allowing no runs on two hits to go along with three strikeouts. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins have lost one of their bullpen stalwarts to an injury. Right-hander Cole Sands was put on the 15-day injured list by the Twins on Saturday due to a strained right forearm. Right-hander John Klein was called up from Triple-A St. Paul to make his MLB debut. Sands made 131 appearances out of the Twins' bullpen the last two seasons and had made 12 in 2026. In 11⅔ innings, he had a 4.63 ERA with six runs on 12 hits with four walks and 11 strikeouts. He last appeared in a game Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners, giving up two runs on three hits, including a homer, in two-thirds of an inning. He came on with one on and one out in the eighth and gave up a double to Julio Rodriguez and a three-run homer to Josh Naylor, turning a 2-1 Twins deficit into a 5-1 disadvantage. Klein had made seven appearances, six starts, at St. Paul this year. He had a 7.48 ERA in 21⅔ innings, walking six and striking out 24. Klein signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022. View the full article

While some corners of the San Diego Padres' pitching staff have struggled to find their footing this April—such as Matt Waldron surrendering a .461 wOBA and David Morgan sitting on a .426 wOBA allowed, landing in the bottom 6% of the league—there is a flamethrower in the bullpen making "dominance" look like an understatement. At 27 years old, Mason Miller hasn't just hit his stride; he’s reached a peak that few pitchers in the history of the game ever touch. In a month defined by high-leverage situations, Miller has been the ultimate "delete" button for opposing offenses. The surface-level numbers are staggering. In 15 appearances, Miller has locked down 10 saves, acting as a brick wall at the end of games. Over 15.1 innings, he has racked up a jaw-dropping 29 strikeouts. Some other fun stats to gawk at: ERA: 1.17 WHIP: 0.59 wOBA: .140 (Top 1% of MLB) FIP: -0.06 When Miller enters the game, the conversation usually ends. His 0.59 WHIP suggests that even getting a runner on base is a monumental achievement for the opposition. If the ERA doesn't scare you, the advanced metrics will. Miller is currently performing at a level that defies traditional logic. Through 215 pitches this month, he has allowed ZERO barrels. Not one. The average launch angle he's allowed has been suppressed to a minuscule 4.5 degrees, meaning even when batters do make contact, they are pounding the ball into the dirt. He's also getting whiffs (i.e., swings and misses) on 55.9% of the swings opposing hitters take. Yes, batters are literally missing his pitches more often than they make contact. What’s most fascinating is Miller’s evolution as a pitcher. Known for a fastball that can vaporize a catcher’s mitt, he has shifted his strategy to keep hitters even more off-balance: Slider: 53% Four-Seam Fastball (FF): 40% Cutter + Changeup + Sinker: 7% By leaning more heavily on his slider, Miller has made his triple-digit heater even more lethal. Hitters are forced to guess, and according to the .118 xSLG they've mustered against him, they are guessing wrong most of the time. To go an entire month without allowing a single barrel while striking out over 50% of the batters you face isn't just a 'hot streak.' It’s a statement. Mason Miller is the most dangerous pitcher in baseball right now. As the Padres look to stabilize their rotation and bullpen heading into May, they can rest easy knowing the ninth inning is a restricted airspace. Mason Miller is putting up historic numbers, and if this trajectory continues, we aren't just looking at the Pitcher of the Month—we’re looking at a potential Cy Young contender coming out of the pen. Congratulations to Mason Miller, our Padres' Pitcher of the Month! View the full article

A little over a week ago, North Side Baseball’s Matthew Trueblood wrote a piece illustrating how Pete Crow-Armstrong is the best centerfielder in baseball, and potentially the rangiest centerfielder ever. Advanced metrics support this claim, with Crow-Armstrong sitting atop the position in FanGraphs’s Defensive Runs Above Average (7.2 DEF) and Baseball Savant’s Outs Above Average (7 OAA). Arizona Diamondbacks centerfielder Alek Thomas sits in second at both metrics, generating 3.2 DEF and 3 OAA over 183 innings at the position this season. Andy Pages (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Michael Harris II (Atlanta) reside in the third and fourth slots in DEF, generating 2.4 and 2.3, respectively. Interestingly, however, Byron Buxton has generated the fifth-most DEF (1.7) in the third-highest OAA (2) at the position this season, slotting him alongside Thomas, Pages, and Harris II as the second tier of elite defensive centerfielders behind Crow-Armstrong. This may surprise some, as Trueblood also gave an excellent breakdown of how Buxton's defense has started to slide while retaining some key strengths. A look at the numbers suggest he's still playing at a high level, and is arguably still the best centerfielder in the American League. Thomas, Pages, Harris II, and Buxton are all fast, rangy centerfielders with plus arms and route-taking skills, but they all play for National League clubs. Buxton is tied with Evan Carter, Denzel Clarke, Steven Kwan, and Tristan Peters for first in OAA and tied for first in DEF once again alongside Kwan. Buxton, however, has generated 184 innings at the position compared to Kwan’s 189, meaning he made more of an impact at the position in fewer innings played (albeit only five). Buxton is neck-and-neck with Carter, Clarke, Kwan, and Peters in OAA and Kwan in DEF. Still, if one were to look even further below the hood, they would notice the 32-year-old Twins outfielder is leading the four other plus AL centerfielders in other important metrics. Buxton is the best among the quartet in making plays running in, sporting 1 OAA in those scenarios. Buxton is tied with Clarke and Kwan with 1 OAA on making plays to his right and trailing only Peters, Kwan, and Carter on plays to his left. Again, there is very little wiggle room between Buxton and Kwan; Carter is not far behind them, either. Still, there is one metric Buxton truly separates himself from the pack in: sprint speed. According to Baseball Savant’s sprint speed metric, Buxton is the 12th-fastest player in baseball, and the third-fastest player in the AL behind only Bobby Witt Jr. and Chandler Simpson. That being the case, Buxton is the AL’s quickest centerfielder, sprinting 29.5 feet per second. Peters is close behind him, running 28.6 feet per second. Still, he is far behind Buxton in DEF, sporting only 0.4 over 96 innings at the position. Carter sprints 27.8 per second. Like Peters, he trails Buxton in DEF, netting only 1.5 over 222 2/3 innings in center. Most notably, Kwan is one of the slowest centerfielders in baseball, sprinting 26.7 feet per second (ranking him 34th out of 38 centerfielders). Buxton is not leaps and bounds ahead of fellow AL centerfielders like Crow-Armstrong is compared to the rest of the sport. Heck, he is barely even a top-five centerfielder in the sport, with Thomas, Pages, and Harris II firmly planted ahead of him. Still, given Buxton’s competition in the AL, and him resembling the elite defender who won the Platinum Glove in 2017, the long-time Twin could again be the AL’s best defensive centerfielder, a remarkable feat for a player who recently reached ten years of service time. View the full article