DiamondCentric

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough explains how he plans to patch things together at first base in the absence of Kyle Stowers, who landed on the injured list prior to Tuesday's game. View the full article

Owen is pumped that the Blue Jays are playing better baseball, but Jesse is a little less convinced. Owen makes the case that the Blue Jays are better than every team currently between them and the third American League wildcard spot before the guys go into a full breakdown of the series in Philadelphia. They talk Zack Wheeler's antics, Nathan Lukes and Andrés Giménez heroics, and José Soriano's first Jays start before breaking down a huge upcoming series against the Red Sox. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jays-centre-podcast/id1846108462 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bi7SzfpcqMo5xYWnbCeoL Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-jays-centre-podcast-300304824/ Listen on Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/2qk9wqxd Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayscentre View the full article

The Minnesota Twins received an encouraging update on Joe Ryan’s recovery Monday, but there is still plenty of work to be done before their All-Star right-hander is ready to return to the mound. Ryan, who is on the injured list with a mild left glute strain, played catch on flat ground Monday. It was a small step, but it was an important one for a pitcher who has been dealing with physical issues that have impacted both his mechanics and his results since the All-Star break. Twins manager Derek Shelton said Ryan’s throwing session was a positive development. “I had a brief but very good conversation with him,” Shelton said. “I think we’re going to just have to see how it continues to progress. But the fact that he’s out there throwing is a very encouraging sign. It was flat ground, but he was still playing catch.” Ryan is not eligible to return from the injured list until August 20, but the Twins don't appear interested in treating that date as a target. Instead, the organization wants to see how Ryan responds as he progresses through his throwing program. Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll echoed Shelton’s optimism while emphasizing the importance of taking a measured approach. “We want to make sure we don't try to push him along, and end up on this spiral or hamster wheel,” Zoll said. “We're trying to thread the needle on not having him down too long, so it doesn't require too long of a buildup (to return). But we also want to make sure everything is resolved.” That last part is especially important. Ryan hasn't simply been dealing with the glute strain. He has also experienced tightness in his back, and the combination disrupted his mechanics. Once those mechanics became compromised, his performance took a significant downturn. Ryan went 0-3 with a 9.39 ERA across three starts following the All-Star break before landing on the injured list. The Twins don't want to see him return simply because he is technically healthy enough to pitch. They need him to feel like himself again. “We have to start with that to make sure he feels like that's resolved before being able to progress,” Zoll said. “Obviously these things work all in conjunction. If you feel off physically, it can impact you mechanically and performance-wise. ... First and foremost, we want to get him feeling symptom free to be able to progress.” That approach makes sense for a pitcher Minnesota cannot afford to get wrong. Ryan is one of the most important pieces of the Twins' rotation, and his importance only increases as the club tries to remain in the American League playoff picture. Minnesota has already made additions to its pitching staff, but replacing a healthy version of Ryan over the long term is not something the organization can realistically expect to do. The good news is that Monday's throwing session represents progress. The bad news is that it is only one step. Ryan still needs to progress to throwing off a mound, build his workload back up and demonstrate that the physical issues that disrupted his mechanics have been resolved. The Twins will need to balance urgency with patience, particularly with the season entering its most important stretch. If the Twins are going to stay in the playoff hunt, they need their All-Star starter back. More importantly, they need him back healthy and pitching like the version of Joe Ryan they know he can be. Monday provided a reason for optimism, but the next few weeks will determine whether that optimism turns into a meaningful return. View the full article

The San Diego Padres are likely to be under new ownership next week. MLB is scheduled to vote Monday on the record $3.9 billion purchase of the Padres by Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reported Tuesday. Feliciano and Jones are buying the team from the Seidler family, a process that began in November and was brought about with the death in November 2024 of Peter Seidler. The sale will require the approval of 22 of the 29 other MLB teams. Monday's vote will be by conference call. The $3.9 billion sale price eclipses the previous MLB record of $2.42 billion by Steve Cohen when he bought the New York Mets in 2020. While Feliciano and Jones will run the team together, making Jones one of the more high-profile women in MLB, only one individual can be the control person and that will be Feliciano. They will have between a 40% and 45% share, with a number of minority owners, typical for most every team, with the remainder including members of the Seidler family and some of those who previously held shares. While the sale was reported in April, Feliciano and Jones still had to formalize the minority owners, complete paperwork and pass a screening committee, which happened last week. View the full article

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Milwaukee has a lot of talent on the left side of the infield across the organization. In addition to Cooper Pratt, Brice Turang, Joey Ortiz, and David Hamilton at the major league level, there are multiple Top 100 prospects who could slot in there as well. One of those prospects, Jesus Made, is rightly considered to be untouchable in trade talks. However, with Jett Williams apparently close to MLB-ready, Luis Pena is seen as a potential trade chip and was reportedly the centerpiece in the Brewers’ offer for Tarik Skubal. But the crowded infield doesn’t mean there isn’t a role for Pena with the Brewers – in fact, recent history suggests that the Brewers may be better served by making him as untouchable as Made. The Current Brewers Infield Right now, the Brewers have Brice Turang at second, Cooper Pratt at shortstop, and a platoon of David Hamilton and Joey Ortiz at third. This isn’t a bad setup at all, and if anything, their defense helps as much as their solid offense since June 1. While Turang has increased his power each year in the majors, Pratt, Ortiz, and Hamilton don’t quite scare pitchers (although none are easy outs, either). Well, Pratt could be crossing into the "scary" territory with his numbers since July 1. First base will be interesting, as Jake Bauers is a potential free agent and Andrew Vaughn will be in his last year of arbitration, but that is a subject for another article. Recent History In 2024 and 2025, the Brewers have found themselves set off track by injuries (losing Christian Yelich for most of 2024) and fatigue (players just wearing out by the NLCS). The real question has been maintaining depth with the slots on the bench and the spots at Triple-A Nashville. The good news is that the Brewers have talent; it’s just a question of figuring out how to make it all fit. The thing is, the very players that some considered dealing to rent Skubal for three months could probably make the Brewers far better over the next decade, and Luis Pena is Exhibit A in this. Pena’s Profile and Potential Role Pena is a right-handed hitter who is flashing more power to go with speed and solid bat-to-ball skills. He’s got more swing-and-miss in his profile than Made, but there is clearly some real athleticism. Questions remain about his long-term defensive home, mostly due to his inconsistency on the infield. Could he end up in the outfield? We don’t quite know just yet, although Pena not being “locked in” might make him more valuable to the Brewers. Let’s fast-forward to 2028 spring training. Turang will likely be at second, with Pratt at shortstop and Made at third. Jett Williams would be one option off the bench, covering not just third base, but also second base, shortstop, and the outfield. Assuming the 2028 infield is Made, Pratt, Turang, and Blake Burns manning first base. Let’s further assume the outfield is Josh Adamczewski in left, Luis Lara in center, and Jackson Chourio in right, with Jeferson Quero and Bo Naylor splitting time behind the plate. Yelich is in his last year as DH. Assume the Brewers have four bench spots. One will be taken by whichever of Quero and Naylor is not starting. Assume Jett Williams has another. Figure the Brewers will have an outfielder (Sal Frelick, perhaps?) on the bench as well. In this case, the Brewers may be well-served to put Pena on the bench. Pena can similarly slot in, either right next to Williams, or even as a replacement (recall that the Brewers moved Caleb Durbin and Isaac Collins over the offseason and got potentially valuable returns for the former) or as a replacement, say alongside Luke Adams, with Andrew Fischer knocking at the door. Comps From The Past If the idea of Pena moving all over while still providing almost-elite offense seems familiar, it’s happened before. The Chicago Cubs used Javier Baez at multiple positions (second base, third base, shortstop, first base, left field, and right field) in their World Championship season of 2016 and their run to the NLCS in 2017. Around that same timeframe, the Brewers had Hernan Perez, who was less potent offensively, but who played every position but catcher from 2016-2019. Luis Pena could be the best of both players for the Brewers – not just a potent offensive threat, but one who allows the other players on the team to stay fresh. The Brewers farm system is reaching a point where the organization will have to consider how they will lose some of their prospects – but when it comes to a talent like Pena, the team may want to think of keeping him around, even without a single defensive “home.” View the full article

Trading Joe Ryan was certainly on the table last offseason after the trade deadline sell-off. The team chose to stay the course and aim for contention in 2026. It's worked; Ryan has been an anchor for the Twins so far as they’ve hung around in the wild card picture. But when the organization doubled down on setting their sights on the postseason, the annual questions about Ryan’s ability to help in the second half became impossible to ignore. The Twins have been put in a difficult spot. Ryan’s season took a complete 180 in his last three starts, allowing 16 earned runs in 15 ⅓ innings before heading to the injured list with a glute strain. This ostensibly minor injury could explain Ryan’s downturn, but the context of his historical struggles in the second half of the season is concerning. As the team continues to hang around in the playoff picture, they’re now without their ace, and even if his IL stay is short-lived, it’s fair to wonder what version of Ryan shows up whenever he is activated. The Twins had enough concerns in the rotation without Ryan’s notorious second-half splits showing up again. The team’s acquisition of Dean Kremer as rotation depth is now a necessity. Even with the innings Kremer will add to the rotation, it’s difficult to imagine the team making the postseason without Ryan returning to form. Ryan’s sample size of struggling in the second half has grown to such a point that it’s as much a part of his story as the back-to-back All-Star appearances. The team was fortunate to be in a reasonable spot to buy at the deadline, as Ryan allowing six homers to Cleveland on July 20th would have raised some eyebrows from potentially acquiring teams. That may be irrelevant now, but if Ryan either spends an extended amount of time on the IL or returns as a shell of his first-half self again, skepticism will only grow stronger. The Twins may very well have Ryan penciled into their 2027 plans, and there is a strong argument that they should. If that’s the case, they may need to give special consideration to making sure they have the starting pitching depth and talent to make it through the second half. Injuries in the pitching staff can happen anytime, but Ryan’s drop-offs late in the season are becoming something worth planning for. Even if he's in their plans, the Twins may be open to listening on calls regarding Ryan in the offseason in case another team wants to blow them away. It seems far less likely for that to happen than it has in past years. As the second-half struggles rear their ugly head again, teams are certain to question whether Ryan can be counted on during the most important stretch of the season. The Twins had previously asked for two top-100 prospects in return for Ryan, with some teams reportedly ready to meet that demand. It’s worth questioning whether the Twins would get anything close to that return at this point. The Twins are in a bad spot now as a contending team in need of their ace. They also likely don’t have nearly as much flexibility this offseason if they are open to trading him. Joe Ryan has been a massive addition to the rotation the last several years, but his pattern of second-half struggles threatens to put a real damper on the tail end of his Twins career. How should they move forward? What would you advise? Let us know in the comments. View the full article

All of the talk around the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline related to starting pitching, and rightfully so considering the staff's patchwork nature. They were able to address that effectively with the additions of Robbie Ray & Casey Mize, but such an effort also neglected a secondary need in the form of a supplemental bat. It's gone with less notice as the year has worn on and several hitters have rounded into form, but the Padres have long featured a similar approach in their positional depth as they have from a starting pitching standpoint. They attempted to fill out their bench with volume (via minor-league deals and one-year contracts) above all. In some cases that's worked (Luis Rengifo) and in others it very much hasn't (Nick Castellanos). One spot in particular where the need for depth has manifested has been in left field. An injury to Ramón Laureano left something of a vacancy there, with Craig Stammen rotating a cast of characters that has included eight different players throughout 2026. Most recently, that's been a heavy dose of Gavin Sheets on the outfield grass, which isn't necessarily what you want with a team that has focused on improving defensively this season. Enter Austin Hays. He was a castoff of the Chicago White Sox after his one-year deal was marred by injury and the ascent of a number of youngsters (and the addition of Randal Grichuk) in an upstart season, which led to his designation for assignment earlier this month. He was subsequently released after logging just a dozen games of work, a shade over 45 plate appearances, and a bunch of strikeouts. The Padres were happy to add him quickly given their present need for some supplementary help in the outfield. And then, it took just one swing for Hays to announce himself in San Diego: It's not so much that we should expect Hays to do that with regularity (though he did homer 15 times for Cincinnati just last season). It's what he brings to the Padres in a specific area of need. Against left-handed pitching, the Padres have been one of the worst offensive teams in the league. They've slashed only .240/.307/.365 with a bottom-of-the-league .125 ISO and 88 wRC+ as a collective. While that does take into account the full season and we've seen the offense improve over the last month and change, the addition of a hitter who can handle lefties was considered a secondary need that they were unable to address directly at the trade deadline. Hays, however, can be just that. For his career, Hays has slashed .283/.340/.481 against southpaws, with a 125 wRC+ that far exceeds his mark of 96 against right-handed pitchers. His .198 career ISO against them is more than 30 points higher than his work against righties. Toss in the fact that Hays has generally lingered around the average threshold defensively (if not just a shade below it) in left field, and the Padres were able to reign in precisely the kind of player that they likely needed ahead of the deadline. Only without the additional prospect cost. Let's not pretend that the Padres just picked up an offensive savior. That responsibility lies in bats like Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, and Manny Machado. For his part, though, Hays adds a dynamic that fortifies this lineup against lefties in a way they previously lacked. There's tremendous value in that, and, ideally, Sunday's home run is the first of a few we see from him down the stretch as they continue their pursuit of a National League Wild Card spot. View the full article

One year ago, the Minnesota Twins reshaped the organization with one of the biggest trade deadline selloffs in franchise history, making nine separate deals before the deadline passed. Immediately afterward, I graded each trade based on the information available at the time. A year later, we have a much better picture. Some of the prospects the Twins acquired have taken significant steps forward, while others have struggled or battled injuries. Meanwhile, several of the veterans the Twins traded away have continued to build their value elsewhere. With the 2026 trade deadline now behind us (and with Jhoan Duran coming home to Target Field later this week), it's time to revisit all nine trades and see which ones have aged the best and which ones look worse than they did a year ago. 1. (Last Year's Rank: 7) Griffin Jax to the Rays Return: RHP Taj Bradley 2025 Grade: C- 2026 Grade: A- I wasn't a big fan of the Griffin Jax trade at last year's trade deadline for a few reasons. The biggest was that the Twins didn't need to make the trade. Jax still had 2.5 years of team control remaining, and it felt like a rushed move when they could have let the market develop over the winter. At the time, Taj Bradley also didn't feel like an exciting return after posting a 4.70 ERA across 354 career innings with Tampa Bay. This trade has completely flipped. Bradley has emerged as one of the Twins' most valuable starters, posting a 3.69 ERA while leading the club in innings pitched. He's still in his pre-arbitration years, giving Minnesota a young, affordable starter for years to come. Griffin Jax has reinvented himself as a starter with the Rays, but landing a controllable rotation piece with upside has made this look like one of the Twins' best moves. 2. (Last Year's Rank: 1) Harrison Bader to the Phillies Return: OF Hendry Mendez, RHP Geremy Villoria 2025 Grade: A- 2026 Grade: A- Last year, I graded the Harrison Bader trade as the best move the Twins made at the deadline, and it still ranks near the top. Bader was playing on an expiring contract and had little long-term value to a selling club. Minnesota turned him into an intriguing left-handed hitting outfield prospect in Hendry Mendez, who owned an .808 OPS at Double-A at the time of the trade. Since joining the organization, Mendez posted a .912 OPS with Wichita before earning a promotion to Triple-A, where he has continued producing with an .844 OPS. He looks like someone who will factor into the Twins' big league plans in the near future, making this an excellent return for a pending free agent. The Twins also got 17-year-old Geremy Villoria as a lottery ticket; we won't learn whether it was a winner for several more years. 3. (Last Year's Rank: 4) Chris Paddack and Randy Dobnak to the Tigers Return: C Enrique Jimenez 2025 Grade: B- 2026 Grade: B+ Chris Paddack was struggling on an expiring contract when the Twins dealt him, so the fact that Minnesota was able to receive a legitimate prospect at all was impressive. Jimenez rewarded that gamble almost immediately, posting a .983 OPS in A-ball after joining the organization. This season he earned a promotion to High-A as a 20-year-old before suffering a significant left hamstring strain in late July that is expected to end his season. The injury is unfortunate, but the upside remains intriguing, and this trade looks better today than it did a year ago. 4. (Last Year's Rank: 3) Carlos Correa to the Astros Return: RHP Matt Mikulski and roughly $70 million in salary relief 2025 Grade: B 2026 Grade: B This was always more about financial flexibility than prospect value. Matt Mikulski has since been released, eliminating any player value from the return. However, shedding the remainder of Correa's contract gave the Twins significantly more payroll flexibility, something that showed up at this year's trade deadline when they were willing to absorb more than $8 million in salary. Correa is also out for the remainder of the 2026 season with an injury, making it difficult to argue the Twins should regret moving on. Still, because this was primarily a salary dump, it's difficult to rank it much higher. 5. (Last Year's Rank: 5) Willi Castro to the Cubs Return: RHP Ryan Gallagher, RHP Sam Armstrong 2025 Grade: C+ 2026 Grade: C While Castro was an impending free agent, he was enjoying another productive season when Minnesota moved him. Ryan Gallagher had generated some excitement after posting a 3.43 ERA in the Cubs' system and earning a promotion to Double-A before the trade. Since arriving in the Twins organization, however, Gallagher has struggled. He posted a 6.69 ERA after the trade last season and owns a 5.50 ERA in 91 innings this year. However, the strikeout numbers and raw stuff remain intriguing, and he has had a successful run of good starts lately, making him look like he could still become a piece for the Twins rotation of the future. 6. (Last Year's Rank: 2) Jhoan Duran to the Phillies Return: C Eduardo Tait, RHP Mick Abel 2025 Grade: B+ 2026 Grade: C- Much like Griffin Jax, the Twins weren't under any pressure to trade Jhoan Duran. He still had multiple years of club control remaining. At the time, receiving two Top 100 prospects looked like a strong return. Unfortunately, both players have lost momentum. Tait has yet to truly break out at High-A, though he has shown signs of life recently. Abel flashed his upside during three major league starts this season before injuries derailed his year. He has since undergone elbow surgery and likely won't pitch again this season. Meanwhile, Duran has continued establishing himself as one of baseball's elite relievers. Looking back, it's difficult not to wonder what this Twins bullpen would look like with him still anchoring the ninth inning. There's still time for Tait to realize his prospect potential, and if Abel can stay healthy, he could be a #2 or #3 pitcher for the Twins, but early returns aren't looking great for the biggest swing the Twins made at the trade deadline last season. 7. (Last Year's Rank: 6) Danny Coulombe to the Rangers Return: LHP Garrett Horn 2025 Grade: C 2026 Grade: C- Trading a left-handed specialist on an expiring contract was never expected to produce a significant return. Unfortunately, Garrett Horn hasn't done much to change that perception. Shoulder issues have limited him to just 16 innings this season, and at 23 years old, he doesn't appear to be a significant part of the organization's long-term plans. It's hard to see this trade moving much higher as time goes on. 8. (Last Year's Rank: 8) Brock Stewart to the Dodgers Return: OF James Outman 2025 Grade: D+ 2026 Grade: D This trade didn't make much sense when it happened, and it didn't exactly age great. The Twins already had an abundance of left-handed hitting outfielders, yet they acquired James Outman, another left-handed outfielder whose major league production had fallen off dramatically after his rookie season. That concern proved valid. Across two seasons with Minnesota, Outman posted just a .526 OPS in 174 plate appearances. The coaching staff never seemed comfortable using him in center field, and his defense in the corners wasn't impactful enough to justify his bat. He has since been designated for assignment and is no longer with the organization. The only thing keeping this trade from ranking last is Brock Stewart's health. Stewart was already dealing with complicated medical concerns when the Twins traded him, and he has thrown only 17 innings over the past calendar year while spending much of that time on the injured list. It seems likely those medical questions significantly limited the Twins' leverage and made Outman about as much as they could realistically receive. 9. (Last Year's Rank: 9) Louis Varland and Ty France to the Blue Jays Return: LHP Kendry Rojas , OF Alan Roden 2025 Grade: D+ 2026 Grade: D This was already my lowest-ranked trade immediately after the deadline, and it looks even worse a year later. Since joining Toronto, Louis Varland has developed into one of the best relievers in baseball. He earned his first All-Star selection this season while posting a 1.09 ERA across 57 innings, while striking out 11.5 batters per nine innings. Even more importantly, he's still making the league minimum and remains under team control through the 2030 season. On the Twins' side, Kendry Rojas remains an intriguing arm, though he increasingly looks more like a future reliever than a starter. Alan Roden has struggled throughout his time in the organization and has done little to change the outlook of the trade. What makes this deal even more painful is how perfectly Varland would fit on the current roster. Minnesota's bullpen has been one of the club's biggest weaknesses this season, and Varland has somehow become an even better reliever than anyone could have realistically projected a year ago. Watching him dominate elsewhere while the Twins have searched for reliable late-inning options, needing to dip into the prospect pool to acquire those options at this year's trade deadline, makes this trade look even more lopsided than it did last summer. Overall, the 2025 trade deadline class hasn't aged particularly well, although it's still early in the development process for many of these prospects. Player development is rarely linear, and several of these young players still have plenty of time to change the narrative. Still, one year later, it's fair to say some of the Twins' biggest bets have lost value, while only a handful have clearly moved in the right direction. Given how monumental that deadline was in shaping the franchise's direction, these trades will continue to be worth revisiting for years to come. Do you agree with these updated rankings and grades? Which trade would you take back if you could only redo one? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! View the full article

The Chicago Cubs knew exactly what they were getting when they signed Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract this winter: a proven veteran, an excellent defender, a consistent offensive contributor and, perhaps most importantly, someone who has already experienced the pressure of playing meaningful October baseball. Unfortunately for the Cubs, Bregman’s North Side career did not get off to the strongest of starts. Through the first half of the season, the third baseman was slashing just .241/.336/.359, which added up to a .696 OPS. With a 97 wRC+, he was actually a below-average hitter for the first three-and-a-half months of the year. For a player making $35 million, that obviously wasn't what the Cubs were hoping to see. Luckily, things appear to be trending in the right direction at exactly the right time. Across 86 plate appearances since the All-Star Break, Bregman has looked much more like the player Cubs fans expected to see when he signed his massive contract. He’s slashing .283/.347/.467, good for an .814 OPS and a 126 wRC+. That’s a pretty significant difference from what Bregman was doing earlier in the year. And perhaps even more encouragingly, there are some clear signs that his approach is changing. Bregman has been really leaning into his pull-side power lately; his pull-rate is above 50% in the second half thus far, including a huge 54.8% mark in August. This has always been his key to success, and it's a good sign that he's rediscovering it now. Despite the team's overall success throughout the year (even as Bregman has struggled), it's clear that the Cubs will need him at the peak of his power if they want to win in the playoffs. As the Cubs get closer to October baseball, Bregman has something that is incredibly difficult to find: an abundance of postseason experience. They have a firm hold of the top National League Wild Card spot and might even be able to make a run at the NL Central title. And after bolstering their pitching staff at the trade deadline with additions such as Kevin Gausman and Ryan Zeferjahn, it’s pretty clear what this team is trying to accomplish. The Cubs want to make a deep postseason run. Bregman knows a thing or two about doing exactly that. The veteran won two World Series championships during his time with the Houston Astros, and he wasn’t simply along for the ride. He was a crucial part of why Houston was able to bring home those championships. During the Astros’ 2017 championship run, Bregman recorded seven extra-base hits across 18 postseason games as a 23-year-old. Then, during Houston’s 2022 run, he posted an impressive .948 OPS throughout the playoffs. That experience matters. That was part of the appeal for Chicago when it signed him. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer made that clear when discussing the decision to bring Bregman to Chicago during the introductory press conference: “He plays good defense. He makes great contact. He has power. He makes good decisions. On top of that, I think he provides a level of leadership to a team that's ready to win. I think that's really important. He wants to make other guys better. He wants to lead. And I think that there's not a lot of guys like that in the game that want that responsibility.” The Cubs have a roster capable of making a deep postseason run. Their offense has the talent, their pitching staff has been strengthened, and they’ve put themselves in a strong position to secure a playoff spot. What they didn’t necessarily have last year was a player with Bregman’s combination of postseason experience and proven leadership (and no, that's not a shot at Kyle Tucker). Now they do, and Bregman appears to be heating up at exactly the right time. His first half was disappointing, especially considering the expectations that came with his contract. But if this recent stretch is an indication of what’s to come, Chicago could be getting the version of Bregman they expected when they handed him $175 million. View the full article

A few weeks ago, the Twins' bullpen looked like one of the biggest obstacles standing between them and a postseason berth. The front office recognized that reality and addressed it aggressively, adding three veteran relievers to reshape a unit that had carried too much uncertainty throughout the first half. The result is a bullpen that barely resembles the group Minnesota broke camp with in March. Jeff Hoffman, A.J. Minter, and Tommy Nance have joined a relief corps that already featured breakout closer Yoendrys Gómez and emerging right-hander Andrew Morris. Instead of searching for answers every night, manager Derek Shelton now has multiple ways to navigate the game's biggest moments. If Minnesota is going to stay in the playoff race over the final two months, this bullpen has to become one of the club's biggest strengths. Closer: Yoendrys Gómez Gómez earned the right to keep the ninth inning. After arriving in Minnesota, the Twins made subtle mechanical adjustments that unlocked another level for the right-hander. He rewarded them with a 1.93 ERA while stabilizing a bullpen that desperately needed someone capable of finishing games. His 21.0% strikeout rate and 11.4% walk rate aren't overwhelming, but he consistently made the biggest pitches when the Twins needed them. There are still reasons to wonder how sustainable his production will be. Gómez owns a 4.50 FIP, a 5.24 expected ERA, and opponents have produced a 43.5% hard-hit rate against him. Those numbers suggest he's benefited from some favorable outcomes. That doesn't mean Minnesota should make a change. Closers are often as much about confidence as pure stuff, and Gómez has earned that confidence. If regression comes, the Twins now have another elite option waiting in the wings. Until then, Gómez should continue handling the ninth. Back-Up Closer: Andrew Morris Ironically, the deadline additions may have created an even better role for Morris. Instead of asking him to handle traditional setup duties every night, the Twins can now use him as a versatile weapon capable of entering whenever the game begins to tilt. If a starter exits early, Morris can finish an inning. If the biggest rally comes in the sixth, he can erase it before handing the game to Hoffman or Gomez. That flexibility should only increase his value. Long term, Morris still looks like a potential closer. For now, though, this role allows him to impact games without the pressure of owning one specific inning. It could become the perfect bridge toward eventually handling the ninth himself. Left-Handed Fireman: A.J. Minter Minnesota spent much of the first half searching for a dependable left-handed reliever capable of neutralizing the opposition's biggest bats. Minter checks every box. He arrived from the Mets with a 2.35 ERA over 23 innings, although his 4.01 FIP suggests some regression could follow. Even so, his track record speaks for itself. Left-handed hitters own just a .614 OPS against him during his career, and he has struck out 30.3% of the lefties he's faced. That makes him an ideal fireman. Rather than saving him for a predetermined inning, Minter can be deployed whenever an opponent's toughest left-handed hitters threaten to swing the game. Whether that's escaping a seventh-inning jam or protecting a one-run lead in the eighth, Minter gives Minnesota a matchup weapon it simply didn't possess earlier this season. Right-Handed Fireman: Jeff Hoffman The trade deadline gave Minnesota exactly what every contender wants: another pitcher capable of getting the game's biggest outs. Hoffman's ERA with Toronto over the last two seasons sits north of 4.00, but the underlying metrics paint a completely different picture. His 3.33 expected ERA and .211 expected batting average suggest he has pitched much better than the traditional numbers indicate. Even more impressive is how dominant his arsenal remains. His Chase Rate, Whiff Rate, and strikeout rate all rank among the top two percent of pitchers in baseball. Few relievers miss bats at his level. Keeping Gómez in the closer's role could actually maximize Hoffman's value. Instead of waiting for save situations, Shelton can deploy Hoffman whenever the heart of the opposing lineup is due up. Whether that's the seventh, eighth, or ninth inning becomes irrelevant if he's facing the most dangerous hitters. In Friday's victory, Hoffman faced the heart of the order in the seventh leaving the final two innings for Morris and Gomez. That's often how playoff bullpens operate. Middle-Inning Options: Tommy Nance, Travis Adams, Kody Funderburk, Taylor Rogers Nance technically qualifies as one of Minnesota's deadline additions, even though his acquisition came before the deadline frenzy began. He's not in the same class as Hoffman or Minter, but he doesn't have to be. His job is providing quality innings and protecting the late-inning trio from overuse. That's something the Twins lacked for much of the season. The supporting cast has also started trending in the right direction. Adams, Funderburk, and Rogers all found another gear during July after inconsistent first halves. Their improvements coincided with the bullpen's turnaround. Since July 1, Minnesota ranks 10th in Major League Baseball in bullpen ERA and ninth in Win Probability Added, evidence that the entire relief corps has begun pitching at a much higher level. Reinforcements: Zebby Matthews, Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas The bullpen may not be finished evolving. Matthews, Prielipp, and Rojas all remain part of Minnesota's starting pitching depth, but September often changes priorities. As innings become more valuable and workloads begin to mount, converting one or more of those arms into relief roles could make plenty of sense. We've seen contenders follow that blueprint before. Power stuff often plays even better in one- or two-inning bursts, and all three pitchers have the type of arsenal that could immediately translate to high-leverage relief work. If the Twins reach October, don't be surprised if at least one member of this group becomes another important bullpen piece. A Bullpen Built for the Stretch Run Minnesota didn't just add talent at the trade deadline—it added structure. Gomez remains the closer. Hoffman and Minter give Shelton two legitimate firemen capable of putting out rallies before they become game-changing. Morris can float wherever he's needed most, while Nance and the rest of the middle relief group provide the depth that was missing for much of the first half. No bullpen is ever finished. Injuries happen, workloads pile up, and September always introduces new wrinkles. But compared to the group that left Fort Myers in March, this version is deeper, more experienced, and significantly better equipped for meaningful baseball. If the Twins are still playing in October, this bullpen makeover will be one of the biggest reasons why. What stands out about the new bullpen hierarchy? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Blake Burke has more raw power than anyone else in the Brewers' minor league system. That's saying something considering the organization also has Andrew Fischer, Jesús Made, and Eric Bitonti. Burke has crushed his way to a 30 home run season in Biloxi (and 28 stolen bases ?!?) in just 96 games, and his promotion to Triple A is well earned after one of the most dominant months in Southern League history. Brewers player development shared a home run compilation along with Burke's statistics in July, which saw him fall just short of slugging 1.000 (yes, slugging) in the month: The exit velocities tell a story. Ranging from 106 mph to 116 mph, Blake Burke hit the ball hard, often, and was hitting it in the air. Burke is an aggressive swinger, but his contact rate overall is north of 70% this season, which is passable. His in-zone contact rate is around 78%, again a strong enough number to play well at the major league level if he can sustain it. The only concerns with Burke's profile to date are something the Brewers have been tight on, and that's his swing decisions. Burke has chased roughly 35% of pitches outside the strike zone this season, putting him in the bottom 10% of hitters in Double A by chase rate. The problem isn't necessarily that he'll miss every pitch he chases. It's that chasing removes him from counts where he can do the most damage, potentially turning elite raw power into merely above-average game power. Will there be a point where chasing too often limits the power he can produce? Well, if we look at the major league level, there are a bunch of names that have been chasing more than Burke, and some of those names may surprise you. This isn't a one-to-one comparison. Burke is seeing Double-A pitching, while these hitters are doing it against major league arms. But the comparison is still useful because it shows that a high chase rate doesn't automatically make an aggressive hitter unplayable. There are currently 30 hitters that chase more than Burke in the major leagues, and while the chart below that showcases expected Weighted On Base Average (xWOBA) should increase the more a hitter chases, there are some exceptions to this: There are a number of successful hitters who chase above 35% of the time, and some of them are the more exciting players in baseball. If we isolate it to just those who chase above 35% of the time and have an xWOBA over .340, we have Julio Rodriguez, Luis Garcia Jr, Michael Harris II, Alec Burleson, Jac Caglianone, CJ Abrams and Jordan Walker. Yes, they chase, but they offset it by maximizing their aggression inside the strike zone and leveraging that for power. Jac Caglianone is an interesting comparison for Burke. Sitting near or at the top of the league for hard-hit rates, barrel rates, average exit velocities and bat speed, his quality of contact metrics are superb. His chase rate, however, limits him from maximizing that contact into being a true superstar; however, he's doing exactly what he needs to do to maximize his profile. Slugging pitches over the heart of the plate. Caglianone has an expected slugging mark of .718 on pitches over the heart of the plate, ranking 17th in all of baseball (interestingly, Jackson Chourio is 15th). That damage has led him to hit .264/.317/.480 while playing the majority of his games in the pitcher-friendly Kauffman Stadium. So while he chases and strikes out, Caglianone is a prime example of why chase rate isn't necessarily the problem. Ineffective aggression is. Blake Burke's power is not in question. Regardless of the level, if pitchers are attacking him inside the strike zone, he has the kind of raw power Milwaukee hasn't seen from a first-base prospect since Prince Fielder that can damage those baseballs. If he can further develop his swing decisions, the Brewers may have one of the best first basemen in the league. If he can't, there's still a path to being a serviceable, powerful first baseman who steals more bases than Josh Naylor (it's wizardry, honestly). Burke's promotion has come at an interesting time. While there isn't a clear path currently to the major leagues for Burke with Jake Bauers taking the role of an everyday, left-handed first baseman, Bauers is hitting free agency after this year. This move is going to give Burke enough playing time in Nashville to potentially propel himself into that first base conversation for 2027, but it also gives the Brewers coverage. There are three potential, if unlikely, routes to seeing Blake Burke in Milwaukee this season. Jake Bauers is playing with a broken toe at the moment, and while he's playing through it using pain management and performing well, the toe is an interesting injury. It absorbs a lot of the ground force that hitters use to create torque from their legs, and it's not inconceivable the Brewers would want to give Bauers some time off down the stretch. It also provides some DH cover should Christian Yelich get injured, which hasn't been uncommon in past seasons. Finally, the rosters expand in September, allowing one extra hitter and one extra pitcher to join the team. The Brewers aren't in need of another position player without versatility, but Burke has a month of games to show he can be a force in a bench bat role. While this is likely a move for next season, it does give the Brewers some options in terms of injury cover, or even expanded roster cover in September, if Burke hits the ground running. It's worth continuing to monitor the chase rates with publicly available statcast data, but even if they stay steady, that doesn't mean Burke won't be successful at the highest level. View the full article

Two strikes should put the hitter on the defensive, but against the Kansas City bullpen, the exact opposite happens. The issue isn't getting ahead; it's finding the pitch to finish the plate appearance. A drop in secondary pitch effectiveness has completely eliminated the uncertainty in the batter's box. Without a breaking or offspeed offering that threatens the zone, hitters get comfortable, extend at-bats, and drive the ball hard—wiping out late-inning leads in the process. The numbers don't lie about the collapse: the Royals bullpen sits at the bottom of Major League Baseball with a disastrous -3.5 WAR and the lowest xERA (4.93) in the American League. They surrender 1.49 home runs per nine innings—the highest rate in MLB—while opponents punish them with a 40.4% hard-hit rate. This isn't a temporary slump limited to a couple of arms; it's a structural flaw in how the unit attempts to close out games. A year ago, a breaking pitch below the zone forced hitters to make split-second decisions. Today, they lay off with ease because they know the next pitch will have to come over the plate. Lucas Erceg's case illustrates it perfectly. Armed with a fastball that averages 97.2 mph, Erceg should freeze hitters when he's ahead in the count. Instead, his changeup has turned into a non-threat, yielding an astronomical 1.000 slugging percentage without generating a single strikeout. That means that, in that situation, the hitter can forget about emergency contact and most of the time look to do maximum damage against the changeup. That ineffective changeup disrupted his entire sequence. With one fewer variable to worry about, opposing batters no longer need to cover the bottom edge and can gear up early for the heater. The result is a damning .387 wOBA on Erceg's two-strike fastball. The velocity is still there. The deception is gone. John Schreiber, the most trusted and heavily used arm in the corps, reflects the very same issue. On paper, his 3.64 ERA (which drops to a microscopic 1.11 at home) masks the underlying damage. But when Schreiber gets ahead in the count and goes for his put-away pitch outside the zone, he loses command of the edges. The result has been so alarming that hitters have raised their meatball swing percentage to 83%, the highest mark of any season in his career with at least 700 pitches. Matt Strahm tells a similar tale. His slider lost its bite on the corners, allowing hitters to spit on it and sit dead-red on a fastball he is forced to throw for strikes—a pitch they are crushing to a .526 slugging percentage. Nick Mears represents the most extreme case. Every single home run he has surrendered would have left all 30 ballparks. Alex Lange and Eli Morgan exhibit the same trend, albeit on a smaller scale. Home runs aren't the problem. They are the visible consequence of everything that happened before. To save the final third of the game, Kansas City has had to turn to arms capable of dictating the pace of the matchup again through the quality of their secondary offerings. Enter Daniel Lynch IV and Steven Cruz, two relievers who regained control of plate appearances in different ways. While others try to impose themselves with the fastball, Lynch forces hitters to account for more than one possibility. Riding a sinker that holds opponents to a .140 average and a slider generating a 44.1% whiff rate, Lynch doesn't need dazzling velocity to survive because he keeps hitters off balance. In his game plan, that uncertainty has been worth more this year than a couple of extra miles per hour. Cruz, for his part, regained control by adding a cutter that forced opponents to account for two different speeds. Holding opponents to a .149 average with that pitch, his 98.6 mph fastball is making an impact again: hitters have to think twice before starting their swing. That is the flaw exposing this bullpen. Surrendering 1.53 home runs per nine innings alongside a 40.6% hard-hit rate is the consequence of running out of put-away pitches. The moment a hitter realizes the secondary pitch is no longer a threat, the at-bat no longer belongs to the pitcher. View the full article

The New York Mets’ season has been a mess on all levels, but there are certainly some positives to take away from the disappointing 2026 campaign. One of them is, without a doubt, Carson Benge’s continued growth as a player. A few months ago, on April 9, we were all discussing Benge’s rough start. His batting average started with a zero, and his slugging percentage was below .200. No, that’s not a typo. It was tough to watch at times. Fast-forward to mid-August, and the guy has completely turned his season around. He has become an outfield cornerstone, a highly productive young player with a 109 wRC+, a healthy .272/.332/.412 line, 13 home runs, 18 stolen bases, and 60 runs scored in a highly dysfunctional offensive environment. The Game Has Slowed Down For Carson Benge The game has finally slowed down for Benge, and that has been the case for a while. Take, for example, his performance between June 1 and August 7: .279/.335/.455, nine home runs, eight stolen bases, six doubles, three triples, and a 120 wRC+ in 242 plate appearances. The situation improves even more if we focus on his offensive play since the start of July: 296/.358/.472, four home runs, six stolen bases, five doubles, and a 132 wRC+ in 120 plate appearances. What we see over these two separate samples is continued evolution in nearly all hitting departments: bat-to-ball skills, power, and on-base ability. Benge only played 32 games in Double-A and 24 in Triple-A last year. That’s the extent of his upper-minors experience. It was logical to assume that there would be an adjustment period over his first few weeks of exposure to MLB pitching. The Mets remained patient, and that patience is now paying off. Benge Is A True All-Around Star Benge is, quietly, one of the most complete young players in MLB. Not only is he among the leaders in xwOBA, ranking in the 71st percentile, but he also ranks in the 92nd percentile in Baserunning Run Value. Benge’s range in the outfield isn’t the best, but he more than makes up for it with a strong and accurate arm, one of the best in baseball. In fact. he rank in the 98th percentile in Arm Strength and is in the 96th percentile in Arm Value (3). He is also very fast, ranking in the 82nd percentile in sprint speed. As you can see, Benge has turned into quite a solid ballplayer. He does almost everything well on a baseball field, and the best news is that he’s only 23. The Mets and their fans have every reason to believe he can hit another gear in his development. We are already witnessing it, and the sky is the limit for him. There aren’t really many reasons for the Mets and their fans to be excited about the 2026 campaign, but Benge is definitely one of them. He represents the future of the organization, one in which he could potentially compete for some of the most prestigious individual awards. Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor provide the floor, but the 2027 Mets could go as far as Benge wills them. View the full article

There is something strange about Erik Miller's numbers. Right-handed hitters have trouble making contact against him. When they do, the ball leaves the bat at just 83.1 mph on average. Miller also generates a 35.6% whiff rate against them. And yet, one out of every five right-handed hitters he faces ends up reaching first base on a walk. How can a reliever have enough stuff to dominate a plate appearance while giving the hitter so many chances not to face him? I think that's the reason the Boston Red Sox bet on him at the trade deadline. Miller still has the tools that made him attractive in San Francisco. His sinker averages 96.9 mph and carries enough movement to attack a hitter's hands. Against left-handed hitters, the results are even more striking: a 34.8% strikeout rate, a 34.3% whiff rate and an average exit velocity of just 80.5 mph. When they do put the ball in play, 60.5% of that contact becomes a groundball. He just needs to find the same groove against righties. Earlier in his career, Miller relied much more heavily on his four-seam fastball (49.7% usage in 2024). In 2026, San Francisco transformed his arsenal: The four-seamer fell to a 9.0% usage rate, while the sinker climbed to 45.0% and the slider to 40.7%. The change makes sense. The sinker allows Miller to attack with velocity and downward movement, while the 86-mph slider gives him another look capable of generating swings and misses. In fact, it has produced an impressive 53.3% whiff rate. Left-handed hitters are obviously the ones directly punished by this pitch mix. A hard fastball that moves in and a sweeping breaker that runs away is a tough combination to deal with, and makes guessing at the plate the only real path toward success. Against a right-handed hitter, that equation changes. The slider no longer moves away from the hitter. It moves toward the plate, while the sinker retains its downward movement and runs toward the hitter's side. Miller still has two pitches capable of producing the result he wants. The key is getting the hitter to choose between them. That is where the problem emerges. Miller is getting the ball into the strike zone too infrequently against right-handed hitters. His Zone% falls to 36.9%. That allows the hitter to change the objective of the at-bat: Instead of deciding which pitch to attack, he can wait for Miller to find the strike he considers perfect enough to swing at. The numbers suggest the problem isn't that right-handed hitters have figured out how to hit his pitches. Miller still generates whiffs and keeps exit velocity down when they make contact. The problem is that he isn't always forcing them to make a decision. And that can change an entire plate appearance. A pitcher with a 96.9-mph sinker and a 115 Stuff+ can live with some contact in the zone if that contact looks like the kind Miller is already producing. A weak groundball can be a way of winning the at-bat. The problem comes when the search for the perfect pitch turns an advantage in stuff into an inability to throw strikes. That is where the Red Sox can make a difference. Andrew Bailey doesn't have to rebuild Miller's arsenal. But he does have to get the left-hander comfortable trusting what is already there. If the sinker can produce weak contact in the zone, the strike doesn't have to be perfect to be useful. And that could change the at-bat from the first pitch. That also helps explain why Miller's profile makes sense in Boston. His sinker has already produced a 53.3% groundball rate, and a reliever who can keep the ball on the ground can have a useful weapon at Fenway Park. But that advantage only exists if Miller allows his pitches to do their work in the strike zone. That is what makes this gamble so interesting. The tools are already there; the question is whether the Red Sox can turn them into a more complete weapon against hitters from both sides of the plate. If they do, the payoff will be huge, perhaps altering the outlook of the bullpen both now and in the future. View the full article

On May 30, 2026, the Blue Jays played a game we’d all prefer to forget. Giving up five runs to the Orioles in the ninth inning and getting walked off at Camden Yards has a real ‘on to the next one’ feel to it. I’m content to forget the majority of that game too, but there is one play that I can’t get out of my mind. In the bottom of the fourth inning with Trey Yesavage having loaded the bases and the Jays clinging to a 2-1 lead, Jeremiah Jackson hit a chopper up the third base line. Kazuma Okamoto charged the ball, subtly adjusted his stride and got his right foot to the bag before the ball arrived. The momentum of his charge carried him forward, but he kept his foot on the bag, secured the ball and recorded the force out at third. Okamoto continued another stride towards home, adjusted his body and made a cross-diamond throw to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first to get Jackson by a stride and a half and turn the 5-3 double play. The play at third was so smooth and fluid that it wasn’t immediately clear that Big Oak had garnered the out at his base. The replay was clear and definitive. My initial reaction when seeing that play was that I had just witnessed one of the greatest double plays of all time. I’ve since softened that stance, but I still can’t stop thinking about the play. Impressiveness of defensive plays can be subjective. We’ve talked about the defensive wizardry of guys like Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement around here a few times. They often make the hardest plays look routine, and while their surehandedness is definitely appreciated by the pitching staff, it doesn’t always make the highlight reels or bring the fans out of their seats. This Okamoto play didn’t move our managing editor, Leo Morgenstern, the same way, and it was left off of his list of the best defensive plays in May. Addison Barger’s 9-2 double play was pretty sweet in its own right (injury aside). Similarly, when you picture a double play, the first instinct is almost never the 5-3. I took a sample of DiamondCentric writers, and none had the 5-3 as their first thought. In fact, only Ryan Salvaggio from Talk Sox included a third baseman at all, opting for the around-the-horn 5-4-3. Up to July 23, there were 433 double plays league-wide that started with the third basemen. That’s just under 20% of the league’s total double plays. Of those 433 double plays starting at third, only 54 went 5-3 (2.5% of league DPs). I’m going to eliminate the DPs that start with a lineout to third and end with catching a runner off their base. Those are fun, and Okamoto has a great one of those from earlier this season too, but they feel spiritually different from getting to your bag and firing a cross-field throw. That play from Okamoto was made in May, and I’m still thinking about it as we near the end of July. That’s gotta count for something. With this being the Jays' 50th season and so much of the talk of the team being centered around that, I’ve gotten into the habit of viewing Toronto’s accomplishments through that lens as well. Where does this Okamoto play stand in the history of 5-3 double plays by Toronto? The two 5-3 plays by Okamoto that I’ve already referenced are the only two the Jays have turned this season, so by default, Oak has the best one of 2026 (so far). In the history of the franchise, the Jays have turned 151 total, and I am entering into this exercise with the assumption that none are going to top May 30, 2026. Kelly Gruber (1990) and Matt Chapman (2023) are the only Toronto players to win a Gold Glove at the hot corner. They might be the top candidates to look at. Scott Rolen won eight Gold Gloves before arriving in Toronto and made just over 200 starts at third base with the Jays. By virtue of all his appearances, no one had more opportunities than Gruber; his 846 games at third are the franchise high. Rance Mulliniks is the sole third baseman with over 1,000 total appearances for the franchise, though *only* 731 were at third base. If you’re looking for a dark horse, he might be the one. I’m going to make a confession here. I was born before the Jays had their first winning season, but I have been spoiled by modern conveniences. I severely underestimated the difficulty I would have in tracking down specific plays from the early days of this franchise. I can tell you with a fair degree of certainty that the first 5-3 double play in Jays history was turned in the bottom of the second inning in the Jays' 11th game. It was a line drive double play caught by Dave McKay and completed by Doug Ault, but I can’t find a video of it. The recap in the next day’s Toronto Star makes no mention of it, instead choosing to focus on the complete game, four-hit win by Dave Lemanczyk. Fair enough. That’s not even the type of 5-3 DP I’m looking for. The first 5-3 groundball double play happened on June 18 of the inaugural season in the franchise’s 60th game. This time Roy Howell was at the hot corner, and Ron Fairly was across the diamond. I can’t tell you much more than that because again, I can’t find any video or mention of it in a recap. I’m going to have to alter the scope of this project and will unfortunately be shortchanging Okamoto in the process. The exercise now becomes ‘finding the best 5-3 double play of the replay era’. A disappointment to be sure. Another historic 5-3 DP thankfully does have some video available. This is the first one to end a game. On July 29, 1988, with Gruber at third, Fred McGriff at first and Duane Ward on the mound, the 42,000+ fans at Exhibition Stadium witnessed history that most probably never realized. As for the play itself, it’s a nice pick from Gruber and an absolute cannon across the diamond to McGriff, but it lacks the grace of Okamoto’s play. In a game on June 7, 1995, the Jays would make 5-3 history again. This game would mark the first time Toronto would turn two 5-3 double plays in the same game. One of them is documented here and shows Ed Sprague fielding and throwing to John Olerud at first. They would turn another one the very next inning, but SportsCentre did not deem that one worthy of a highlight, so we are forced to assume it was less impressive. There is only one other game where the Jays recorded two 5-3 groundball double plays: April 6, 2021, with Cavan Biggio on the hot corner and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first. The first one was pretty smooth. A nice charging grab, a toe-tap on the base and a quick throw across to catch Nick Solak at first. The second one was… an affront to modern baseball. Or at least made to look ridiculous with the hindsight of the defensive shift rules and how we notate baseball plays. While this was ‘technically’ a 5-3 DP, Biggio was lined up in the hole between first and second base with Jonah Heim hitting directly into the shift. This shouldn’t count, and for those 5-3 purists out there (it might only be me at this point), we can’t claim this regardless of what the official record states. I also can’t state it with absolute certainty, but it appears that Guerrero is the only Blue Jay to feature on both sides of a 5-3 double play, having turned one himself from the other side of the diamond. That play isn’t the last time we’ll be talking about Biggio here, though. Over six seasons in Toronto, Biggio made 453 defensive appearances. Eighty of those were at third base. Thanks to Immaculate Grid, I know Biggio made appearances at every position except catcher and pitcher, but when I remember him I think of him as a second baseman and occasional outfielder. That doesn’t mean he was incapable of greatness at third, just that it was less likely. In five out of Biggio’s six seasons in Toronto, he posted a negative score for fielding run value, almost entirely due to his lack of range (his +5 FRV in 2022 may require a separate deep dive). The beautiful thing about highlight reel plays is that they can exist in a vacuum. Every pitch, every ball in play has the potential for greatness. That’s a big reason why we buy tickets and watch the games. Even when the team is playing poorly and the results aren’t there, greatness can happen on the next pitch… September 11, 2023, top of the fifth inning, Texas at Toronto. You might remember that I mentioned Matt Chapman won the Gold Glove at third base in 2023. He was one of the favourites to occupy this space. On this day, however, Chapman found himself on the 10-day IL with a finger sprain – the only IL stint of his time in Toronto. During Chapman’s recovery, Biggio made nine appearances at third. None of those nine appearances included a full game at the position. Biggio was either brought in as a pinch-hitter, moved elsewhere on the field or removed from the game to be pinch-hit for every time – true to his utility form. In that fifth inning, though, Biggio found himself at third. Chris Bassitt started the inning off with a walk and a single to the bottom of the Rangers' order. That brought former Jay Marcus Semien to the plate with runners on the corners and none out. In a 1-2 count, Bassitt jammed Semien with a sinker inside. Semien turned on it and hit a chopper up the third base line right towards the waiting Biggio. Now-Blue Jay Josh Smith, who was on third, was caught too far from the base and attempted a dive back to safety, but Biggio was too quick. Having collected the ball, Biggio was already charging towards Smith. The bases weren’t loaded, so there was no force play, but Biggio’s path led him to step on third just for good measure. Smith attempted a shimmy away from the out, but Biggio put the leather to Smith for the tag and got the throw across the diamond to Vladdy to retire Semien and give the Jays a +13% swing in win probability. With apologies to Okamoto, I’ve got to put him in second place. Against the odds, Cavan Biggio turned the best 5-3 double play I’ve ever seen a Blue Jay make. In the moment, Buck Martinez called it “one of the most heads-up plays you’ll ever see.” In his postgame remarks, John Schneider called it “a great play from Cav” and touted his ability to make plays like that. I’m taking it a step further and calling it the greatest play (of that type) in Blue Jays history. View the full article

Things are looking good for Milwaukee's DSL Gold entry, as just one week remains in the Dominican Summer League regular season before a period of round robin pool play kicks off the postseason schedule. Transactions: Wilson Warbirds released RHP Bryce Schaum. The BrewersFarm "X" / Instagram account lets us know Schaum's backstory and wishes him well via this post. Well, apparently what you see below is allowed. These moves took place after Monday's games. The Brewers aren't the only organization to take action such as this, as Monday's MiLB transaction page will show, but they were aggressive here. The five players sent to the strong Gold team are all having top-level seasons. The four players swapped to Blue are primarily reserve players who have struggled in 2026. Will it be a bit awkward should a trophy be hoisted after the league championship game Wednesday August 26th? Perhaps, but hey, go Gold! Blue is no pushover with a 27-22 record as the league standings page shows, but they are on the outside looking in on the postseason. MiLB Player Pages are linked below so you may compare production. SS Leanders Matos assigned to DSL Brewers Gold from DSL Brewers Blue. RHP Justin Lugo assigned to DSL Brewers Gold from DSL Brewers Blue. RHP Luis Aguayo assigned to DSL Brewers Gold from DSL Brewers Blue. OF Frandy Lafond assigned to DSL Brewers Gold from DSL Brewers Blue. RHP Ruben Saldana assigned to DSL Brewers Gold from DSL Brewers Blue. SS Romano Donato assigned to DSL Brewers Blue from DSL Brewers Gold. OF Manny De Los Santos assigned to DSL Brewers Blue from DSL Brewers Gold. RHP Carlos Canales assigned to DSL Brewers Blue from DSL Brewers Gold. RHP Deivy Gonzalez assigned to DSL Brewers Blue from DSL Brewers Gold. Final: DSL Brewers Gold 2, DSL CLE Goryl 1, seven innings as scheduled Box Score and Game Log Each team managed just four hits. One of the Guardians players doubled to lead off the game and scored on a sacrifice fly later in the inning. RH starter Derlin Garcia did well to strand two baserunners by retiring the next two men with a runner on, and that would be all Garcia and RH reliever Wandy Cabrera would surrender. The pair did issue a combined five free passes (four walks, one HBP), but Cleveland batters were 1-for-10 with RISP. Regular Link Report readers will recognize those two names as having been among the most prominent and successful for either island Crew team in 2026. Garcia's in his 2nd season, Cabrera his third. Player Development, baby. The Golden boys tied it in the 2nd on a RF Carlos Done RBI single, driving in LF Manny De Los Santos, who had walked with one out and stole second base, one of his two steals on the day (23 swipes in 25 attempts). Catcher Moises Salazar (we are still contractually obligated to note that he is still 16 years old for three more days), led off the bottom of the 6th with his 4th home run, as the switch-hitter was batting left and yanked it to right field. Salazar again batted in a prime position and seems to be coaxing quite a bit of success from this staff as the primary catcher. Loving this player. The Brewers survived two caught stealing's in their six attempts and two errors by second baseman Santiago Garcia (12 errors in 35 games spread across the infield), so this indeed was a "fortunate" win. Two youngsters, both of whom have seen limited playing time, are third-year C/1B/DH Kegnnalex Seijas and second-year outfielder Francis Sosa. Each last appeared Monday July 27th. Final: DSL Pirates Black 9, DSL Brewers Blue 3, seven innings as scheduled Box Score and Game Log The good on 18-year-old starter RHP Carlos Galindo - zero earned runs in five innings of work. The bad on 18-year-old starter RHP Carlos Galindo - five unearned runs in those five innings of work. Galindo committed an error in three consecutive innings, each contributing to runs scored. This particular play won't qualify as quality. The teams combined for seven errors overall in the shortened contest. RHP Jordy Brache, who only turned 17 years old last week, has made 11 appearances (four starts), but has yet to allow less than two runs in any outing. Hopefully we'll look back and remember his rookie season 3.28 WHIP with a laugh when he makes his big-league debut. RF Frandy Lafond continued his recent strong play with a double and two stolen bases, giving him 20 on the season (22 attempts). Second-year outfielder Nicolas Barrios, 18 years old, has been idle since leaving after three innings of play on Tuesday July 28th. The Blue boys get a rare Tuesday off to lick their Monday wounds. Wisconsin continues its playoff push with a second consecutive week on the road as they visit a Cedar Rapids (Twins) team that has struggled to a 10-32 record in the second half. The other three full-season teams return home after their own road trips last week. 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

Transactions St. Paul Saints activated CF Emmanuel Rodriguez from the 60-day injured list. ST. PAUL SAINTS SENTINEL The Saints were so close to a series sweep at CHS Field against the Louisville Bats. They took the first five games of the week, before dropping Sunday’s series finale. They did so despite the roster taking a hit, with Twins Daily’s number three prospect Kaelen Culpepper being promoted to the majors. Walker Jenkins provided the biggest highlight of the week with a two-homer game on Thursday, building on his own strong case to follow Culpepper onto the Twins roster. They Saints will now head south as they take on the Iowa Cubs this week, where the St. Paul offense will be tested. North Side Baseball’s top pitching prospect (and number three overall prospect), Jaxon Wiggins, has struggled in Iowa. He’s sporting a 9.82 ERA across 22 innings, having allowed more than a hit AND walk per inning on average. The stuff is still there though, as he’s racked up 28 punchouts, and the Saints will have to worry about more than just him. A trio of major leaguers in Edward Cabrera, Braxton Garrett and Daniel Palencia are currently rehabbing in Iowa, and all will present challenges to St. Paul’s bats. Offensively, the Cubs are led by right fielder Kevin Alcantara. Alcantara, who has bounced between Triple-A and the majors, is slashing .270/.364/.548 (.912 OPS), and has logged 31 extra-base hits across 63 games. Third baseman BJ Murray is also swinging a hot bat, slashing .296/.407/.489 (.896 OPS), and 40 extra-base hits. WICHITA WIND SURGE WISDOM It was a strong week for the Wind Surge, taking four out of six against NW Arkansas. They’ll now travel to Texas this week to take on the Corpus Christi Hooks. The Hooks are home to the Houston Astros’ number three prospect (according to MLB Pipeline), catcher Jason Schiavone, who’s slashing .246/.384/.384 (.768 OPS), along with 16 extra-base hits and 15 stolen bases. The Hooks’ pitching staff is led by right-hander Brett Gillis, who has posted a 3.57 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP across 16 starts, as well as a 20.1% strikeout rate and an 8.2% walk rate. CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS CHRONICLE The Kernels are coming off a series split in South Bend against the Cubs. They’ll now turn their attention to hosting the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers this week. The Timber Rattlers’ offense is headlined by a pair of Brewer Fanatic’s top five prospects, including their number two – shortstop Luis Pena. Across 46 games, he’s slashing .315/.402/.455 (.857 OPS), along with 15 extra-base hits and 25 stolen bases. He’s joined by outfielder Braylon Payne, who has already posted a 20-20 season, along with a .960 OPS. Their pitching staff is led by Brewer Fanatic’s number 14 prospect, Josh Knoth. Knoth currently owns a 4.85 ERA across 52 innings for the Timber Rattlers, along with a 26% strikeout rate. FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSELS MATTERS Fort Myers continued the trend of strong performances, taking four of six in Bradenton, Florida against the Marauders. While neither of the Twins’ top two draft picks (catchers Vahn Lackey and Carson Tinney) had particularly strong weeks at the plate, it was a successful week for the team. They’ll now take on the Clearwater Threshers this week, as they return to Fort Myers. The Threshers are home to a pair of top 10 Phillies’ prospects (according to MLB Pipeline), one of whom being their number six prospect: Alirio Ferrebus. Ferrebus is slashing .324/.375/.520 (.895 OPS). On the pitching side, the Mighty Mussels will get to see Philadelphia’s number seven prospect: left-hander Cade Obermueller. Across 35 2/3 innings, Obermueller owns a 2.78 ERA, along with an outrageous 35.3% strikeout rate. DSL TWINS Twins 4, Tigers 3 Box Score The Twins fell behind 2-0 early Monday, but rallied twice to come away with a 4-3 victory over the DSL Tigers 2. The win moves the Twins to 16-31 on the season. The Twins got on the board in the third inning when Fabian Ulloa doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Jendy Martinez after Daiyer Barboza singled. An inning later, Enmanuel Merlo singled and stole second before Jeferson Abreu launched his fourth home run of the season with two outs, putting Minnesota ahead 3-2. Detroit tied the game in the sixth, but the Twins immediately regained the lead in the bottom half. Jhon Gonzalez opened the inning with a double, and after an Abel Sosa single, Merlo grounded out to bring Gonzalez home. Gonzalez and Barboza each finished 2-for-3, while Merlo went 1-for-3 with an RBI, a run, and a stolen base. Abreu added two RBI of his own. Wisarly Reinoso earned his first win of the season after recording the final out of the sixth, and Arthur De La Cruz struck out two in a scoreless seventh to earn the save. The Twins finished with eight hits while holding Detroit to five. They’lll take on DSL Miami tomorrow. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Jeferson Abreu: 1-2, 1 H, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR Arthur De La Cruz: 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K TOP 20 PROSPECT WEEK IN REVIEW #1 - Walker Jenkins (Saints) - .304/.304/.696, 1.000 OPS, 2 HR #2 - Vahn Lackey (Mussels) - .154/.353/.308, 2 2B #3 - Kaelen Culpepper (Saints) - 462/.500/.769, 2 2B, 1 3B #4 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Rehab) - .375/.565/.438, 6 BB, 2 K #5 - Marek Houston (Wind Surge) - .143/.280/.191, 10 K, 4 BB #6 - Riley Quick (Wind Surge) - 4 IP, 2 ER, 2 K, 2 BB #7 - Eduardo Tait (Kernels) - .177/.222/.235, 1 2B, 1 RBI #8 - Kendry Rojas (Saints) - 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 5 K #10 - Hendry Mendez (Saints) - .200/.333/.333, 2 2B, 2 RBI #11 - Gabriel Gonzalez (Saints) - .467/.467/.733, 2B, HR, 2 RBI #13 - Carson Tinney (Mussels) - .083/.353/.083, 5 BB, 4 K #14 - Khadim Diaw (Wind Surge) - .389/.542/.667, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI #15 - Brandon Winokur (Wind Surge) - .238/.261/.286, 8 K, 0 BB #17 - Quentin Young (Mussels) - .357/.333/.786, 2B, 3B, HR, 5 RBI #18 - Ryan Gallagher (Saints) - 6 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 9 K TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul Saints @ Iowa – LHP Kendry Rojas Corpus Christi @ Wichita Wind Surge – TBD Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids Kernels – LHP Michael Carpenter Clearwater @ Fort Myers Mighty Mussels – TBD DSL Twins @ DSL Miami – TBD View the full article

Box Score SP: Dean Kremer 7 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 7 K, 1 BB HR: Martin (3), Bell (16) Top 3 WPA: Kremer 0.34, Martin 0.22, Lee 0.16 Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs): The Minnesota Twins needed a jolt after losing six of their last eight games, including a series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend. They got one Monday night from an unlikely source, as Austin Martin provided an early spark and Dean Kremer delivered arguably the best start of his career against his former team. Martin gave the Twins an early lead in the third inning when he launched a solo home run to left-center field. It was Martin's third home run of the season and his first since May 22nd, providing a much-needed big hit from a player who has struggled mightily since his hot start with the Twins this spring. The home run gave the Twins a 1-0 lead, but Kremer quickly became the biggest story of the night. Facing the Baltimore Orioles for the first time since being acquired by the Twins at the trade deadline, Kremer looked like a pitcher who had something to prove against his former club. He had virtually everything working, generating 14 swings and misses while allowing just one hit, an infield single. He walked one batter and struck out seven while working seven innings. Perhaps just as importantly, Kremer gave the Twins length at a time when their bullpen desperately needed it. Minnesota has leaned heavily on its relievers during a stretch filled with close, one-run games, so getting seven innings from Kremer was a major development. The only run Kremer allowed came in an unusual sequence in the fourth inning. He struck out the batter, but the Orioles were able to turn it into a strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play that allowed Gunnar Henderson to score from third on the throw down to second, tying the game at 1-1. Outside of that "play", Kremer was essentially untouchable. The Twins quickly gave him the lead back in the bottom of the fourth. Rookie Kaelen Culpepper came through with a sacrifice fly to score Luke Keaschall, putting Minnesota back in front 2-1. For the next few innings, the game remained within striking distance for Baltimore. Then the Twins offense finally broke things open in the seventh. Minnesota put together a five-run inning that started with an RBI single from Ryan Jeffers. Josh Bell followed with the biggest swing of the night, launching a towering three-run home run that left his bat at 106 MPH. It was Bell's 16th home run of the season (third in the past week) and gave the Twins a commanding 7-1 advantage. The Twins added two more runs in the eighth inning. Jeffers came through again with an RBI double before Royce Lewis followed with an RBI single, pushing Minnesota's lead to 9-1. The offensive outburst was exactly what the Twins needed after struggling to consistently put runs on the board during their recent skid. The nine runs were the most Minnesota had scored since July 26th, and the Twins collected 14 hits while recording five extra-base hits, including two home runs. Baltimore did manage to get a couple of runs off Travis Adams in the eighth inning and Taylor Rogers in the ninth, but by that point, the Twins had already put the game out of reach, and the Twins came away with a 9-5 victory. The win gives the Twins a needed victory to open the series and improves their position in the American League Wild Card race. Minnesota now sits just one game out of the final Wild Card spot with plenty of baseball still to be played. More importantly, the Twins finally got the kind of complete performance they have been searching for. Martin provided an early spark, the offense eventually broke through in a big way, and Kremer delivered seven dominant innings against his former club. After dropping six of their previous eight games, the Twins will have an opportunity to build some momentum when they return to the field Tuesday night. What's Next The Twins will look to take the series against the Orioles on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. Bailey Ober will take the mound for Minnesota, facing Orioles right-hander Brandon Young. Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Chart THU FRI SAT SUN MON TOT Funderburk 20 0 21 15 0 56 Hoffman 0 25 15 0 0 40 Morris 13 13 0 14 0 40 Gomez 18 12 0 9 0 39 Adams 0 0 15 0 21 36 Nance 0 24 0 11 0 35 Rogers 0 0 0 0 30 30 Minter 0 3 0 16 0 19 View the full article

All four Royals affiliates lost. Dennis Colleran Jr. struck out all six batters he faced for Northwest Arkansas, Nolan Hoffman, Connor Thomas, and Ethan Bosacker combined for four hitless innings in Omaha, and Michael Braswell III worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings for Columbia. Brett Squires, Justin Johnson, Erick Torres, and Derlin Figueroa homered. Quad Cities lost a five-run lead, falling 9-8, and Josh Hammond doubled for Columbia. Kansas City Royals Transactions Kansas City Royals signed free agent RHP Craig Kimbrel. Kansas City Royals activated RHP Craig Kimbrel. Kansas City Royals optioned RHP Easton McGee to Omaha Storm Chasers. Brett Squires Provides The Only Run As Omaha Falls In Toledo Squires hit a home run, his 19th of the season, in the first inning, and it was the only run the Storm Chasers scored in a 3-1 loss at Toledo. Toledo answered with two runs in the second inning and one more in the third for a 3-1 lead that held up. Omaha did not score again over the final eight innings. The Storm Chasers finished with three hits, one walk, and six strikeouts, and left three runners on base. Jacob Berry had two of the three hits, both doubles, and was the only Omaha batter with more than one hit. Squires went 1-for-3 with the home run, a walk, and a strikeout. Matthew Lugo struck out three times, and six Omaha batters did not record a hit. Ryan Ramsey started and took the loss. He allowed three runs on six hits over four innings, walked three, and struck out five. Every Toledo hit and every Toledo run came against him. Former Phillies reliever Hoffman allowed no hits in an inning, walking one and striking out two. Thomas allowed no hits in an inning and walked two. Bosacker allowed no hits over two innings, walked none, and struck out one. The three relievers combined for four hitless, scoreless innings. Omaha committed one error, a fielding error by Jack Pineda that did not lead to a run, and turned a double play from Brandon Drury to Peyton Wilson to Abraham Toro. Jacob Berry also started a throw that cut down a Toledo runner at second base. The Storm Chasers went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and left three runners on base. Omaha is now 55-58. Player AB R H RBI BB K Drew Waters 4 0 0 0 0 0 Abraham Toro 4 0 0 0 0 0 Brett Squires 3 1 1 1 1 1 Matthew Lugo 4 0 0 0 0 3 Jack Pineda 3 0 0 0 0 1 Brandon Drury 3 0 0 0 0 0 Jacob Berry 3 0 2 0 0 0 Elih Marrero 3 0 0 0 0 1 Peyton Wilson 3 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 30 1 3 1 1 6 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Ryan Ramsey 4 6 3 3 3 5 0 Nolan Hoffman 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 Connor Thomas 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 Ethan Bosacker 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals 8 6 3 3 6 8 0 Johnson's Three-Run Homer Accounts For All Of Northwest Arkansas' Offense Johnson hit a three-run home run, his sixth of the season, and it produced every Northwest Arkansas run in a 6-3 loss to Wichita. The Naturals trailed 2-0 when Johnson connected in the fifth inning, scoring Connor Scott, who had walked, and Canyon Brown, who had been hit by a pitch. Those three runs put Northwest Arkansas ahead 3-2. Wichita scored four runs in the eighth inning to take a 6-3 lead, and the Naturals did not answer. Northwest Arkansas finished with four hits, four walks, one hit batter, and six strikeouts, and left four runners on base. Johnson went 2-for-3 with the home run and three runs batted in. Luke Pelzer, batting leadoff, and Omar Hernandez had the other two hits. The Naturals were retired in order in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. Sam Kulasingam, Connor Scott, and Canyon Brown each stole a base. Hunter Owen started and allowed one run on two hits over three innings. He walked four and struck out six. Brandon Johnson allowed no hits in an inning and struck out two. Dennis Colleran Jr. struck out all six batters he faced over two innings, allowing one run on a solo home run. Caden Monke allowed no hits in an inning and struck out one. Zachary Cawyer took the loss, allowing four runs on four hits, including two home runs, in 2/3 of an inning with a walk. Augusto Mendieta allowed one hit over 1 1/3 innings and struck out two. Naturals pitching struck out 17, walked five, and allowed three home runs. Northwest Arkansas committed no errors, and Carson Roccaforte, the Royals' No. 9 prospect, threw out a runner at home plate. Northwest Arkansas went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded five runners. They fell to 44-62 for the season with the loss. Player AB R H RBI BB K Luke Pelzer 4 0 1 0 0 1 Sam Kulasingam 2 0 0 0 2 0 Carson Roccaforte 3 0 0 0 1 1 Spencer Nivens 3 0 0 0 0 1 Omar Hernandez 4 0 1 0 0 1 Colton Becker 4 0 0 0 0 0 Connor Scott 3 1 0 0 1 1 Canyon Brown 2 1 0 0 0 1 Justin Johnson 3 1 2 3 0 0 Totals 28 3 4 3 4 6 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Hunter Owen 3 2 1 1 4 6 0 Brandon Johnson 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Dennis Colleran Jr. 2 1 1 1 0 6 1 Caden Monke 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Zachary Cawyer 2/3 4 4 4 1 0 2 Augusto Mendieta 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 2 0 Totals 9 8 6 6 5 17 3 Quad Cities Loses A Five-Run Lead In Peoria Quad Cities led 7-2 through four innings and lost 9-8 to Peoria. The River Bandits scored once in the second inning on a Hyungchan Um single, twice in the third on a Chris Brito single, and four times in the fourth. Stone Russell doubled home Angel Acosta in the fourth, and Torres followed with a three-run home run, his second of the season, that scored Um and Russell. Peoria answered with three runs in the fourth to cut the lead to 7-5. Figueroa hit a solo home run, his 23rd, in the seventh for an 8-5 lead, but Peoria scored once in the seventh and three times in the eighth to finish the comeback. Quad Cities collected 11 hits, drew five walks, had two batters hit by a pitch, struck out eight times, and left 10 runners on base. Brito, batting cleanup, Angel Acosta, and Um each had two hits. Torres, batting leadoff, went 1-for-5 with three runs batted in. No. 4 prospect Blake Mitchell drew two walks and stole a base, and No. 7 prospect Zion Rose singled, walked, and stole a base. Jordan Woods started and allowed two runs on six hits over three innings. He walked two and struck out two. Rob Hensey allowed three runs on five hits over three innings without a walk. Nick Conte recorded two outs and allowed a run on a walk with one strikeout. Aiden Jimenez took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits over 1 1/3 innings with a walk and three strikeouts. River Bandits pitching allowed 15 hits, walked four, and gave up no home runs. Quad Cities committed one error, a throwing error by Um that put a runner in scoring position ahead of Peoria's three-run eighth. Quad Cities went 5-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners. The loss dropped the River Bandits to 53-51 for the season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Erick Torres 5 1 1 3 0 1 Zion Rose 4 1 1 0 1 1 Blake Mitchell 3 1 0 0 2 1 Chris Brito 5 0 2 2 0 2 Pedro Roque 0 0 0 0 0 0 Derlin Figueroa 4 2 1 1 1 2 Ben North 3 0 0 0 1 0 Angel Acosta 4 1 2 0 0 0 Tyriq Kemp 1 0 1 0 0 0 Hyungchan Um 4 1 2 1 0 1 Stone Russell 3 1 1 1 0 0 Totals 36 8 11 8 5 8 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jordan Woods 3 6 2 2 2 2 0 Rob Hensey 3 5 3 3 0 0 0 Nick Conte 2/3 0 1 1 1 1 0 Aiden Jimenez 1 1/3 4 3 3 1 3 0 Totals 8 15 9 9 4 6 0 Columbia Manages Five Hits In A Loss To Myrtle Beach Columbia scored in the first inning and did not score again in a 10-1 loss to Myrtle Beach. Henry Ramos, batting leadoff, reached on an error to open the game, moved up when No. 11 prospect Yandel Ricardo was hit by a pitch, and scored on a groundout by No. 6 prospect Sean Gamble, batting cleanup. Myrtle Beach scored twice in the second inning to take the lead, added four runs in the fourth, three in the eighth, and one in the ninth. The Fireflies finished with five hits, one walk, and 12 strikeouts, and left seven runners on base. Josh Hammond went 2-for-4 with a double, Columbia's only extra-base hit. Jhosmmel Zue, JC Vanek, and Roni Cabrera had the other three hits. Zue struck out three times, and JC Vanek, Ivan Sosa, and Daniel Lopez struck out twice apiece. Columbia was retired in order in the sixth and eighth innings. Darwin Rodriguez started and took the loss. He allowed six runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings, walked four, and struck out five. Braswell III turned in the best line of the day for Columbia, allowing two hits over 2 1/3 innings without a run or a walk while striking out three. Andy Basora allowed three runs on six hits over two innings, including a three-run home run, and struck out two. Randy Ramnarace allowed one run on one hit in an inning and walked three. Fireflies pitching allowed 15 hits and walked seven while striking out 10. Columbia committed no errors, and Cabrera threw out a runner trying to reach second base. Columbia went hitless with runners in scoring position, going 0-for-6 on Sunday. They also stranded seven runners. The loss dropped the Fireflies' record to 55-51. Player AB R H RBI BB K Henry Ramos 4 1 0 0 0 1 Josh Hammond 4 0 2 0 0 0 Yandel Ricardo 3 0 0 0 0 0 Sean Gamble 4 0 0 1 0 1 Jhosmmel Zue 4 0 1 0 0 3 JC Vanek 4 0 1 0 0 2 Roni Cabrera 4 0 1 0 0 1 Connor Rasmussen 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ivan Sosa 3 0 0 0 1 2 Daniel Lopez 3 0 0 0 0 2 Totals 33 1 5 1 1 12 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Darwin Rodriguez 3 2/3 6 6 6 4 5 0 Michael Braswell III 2 1/3 2 0 0 0 3 0 Andy Basora 2 6 3 3 0 2 1 Randy Ramnarace 1 1 1 1 3 0 0 Totals 9 15 10 10 7 10 1 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: DNP David Shields: DNP Josh Hammond: 2-for-4, 2B Blake Mitchell: 0-for-3, R, 2 BB, K, SB Sean Gamble: 0-for-4, RBI, K Ramon Ramirez: DNP Zion Rose: 1-for-4, R, BB, K, SB Asbel Gonzalez: DNP Carson Roccaforte: 0-for-3, BB, K Taylor Rabe: DNP Yandel Ricardo: 0-for-3, HBP Justin Lamkin: DNP Drew Beam: DNP Michael Lombardi: DNP Jack Slightom: DNP Felix Arronde: DNP Angeibel Gomez: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Steven Zobac: DNP Blake Wolters: DNP View the full article

Byron Buxton is getting closer to a return, and the Minnesota Twins could have their star back in the lineup before the end of the week. Buxton made meaningful progress Monday as he works his way back from a right hip impingement. Before the Twins faced the Orioles, he took batting practice on the field for the first time since landing on the injured list. He also ran the bases, giving the team another opportunity to see how his hip responds to baseball activities. The next checkpoint comes Tuesday. If Buxton arrives at the ballpark feeling good after Monday's workload, there may not be much left for him to accomplish before returning to the active roster. The Twins do not currently expect him to need a Minor League rehab assignment. "The plan is to see how he comes in tomorrow,” said general manager Jeremy Zoll. “We're just trying to get a sense of how he's recovering from all of the activities, and then hopeful for activation within the next few days." Running Is the Biggest Test Buxton wasn't pushing himself to full speed during Monday's running work, but he did make his way around all three bases. The goal was less about testing his top-end speed and more about seeing how the hip responded to the various movements required during a game. That includes something as simple as slowing down or coming to a stop. Buxton said he has been paying particular attention to those movements because they were among the actions that caused problems when the hip issue first surfaced in May. Being able to run without discomfort will be one of the biggest indicators that he's ready to return. He took time off around the All-Star break to rest the injury, but it didn't work.The Twins placed Buxton on the injured list again after the issue resurfaced. This time, he received an injection in the joint and stepped away from all baseball activities for more than a week. That extended shutdown was designed to give the injury a chance to settle down rather than having Buxton immediately try to play through it again. Both the player and organization are hoping the additional recovery time will allow him to return at full strength for the remainder of the season. Twins Need His Bat Minnesota's offense has had difficulty putting together consistent production during the second half of the season. The Twins have needed more length throughout the lineup, and there are few additions that could provide a bigger boost than getting Buxton back. The timing of his potential return is still somewhat up in the air. The Twins are scheduled to participate in the Field of Dreams game Thursday, which would make for a memorable setting for Buxton's return. However, bringing him back for that game could mean pushing the timeline more than necessary. If he responds well to Tuesday's workout and continues progressing without any setbacks, a return sometime this weekend appears to be a more realistic possibility. For now, the Twins are simply waiting to see how Buxton's body responds. Monday represented a significant step forward. Tuesday could determine just how many steps remain. View the full article

Before the trade deadline struck midnight, rumors were swirling that the Toronto Blue Jays were open to trading the newly acquired Jose Soriano. It was news that surprised many, considering they had acquired him on August 3rd for top prospect Arjun Nimmala. Now, a week after the deadline passed, we're getting more details on what those talks entailed. Dan Hayes and Mitch Bannon of The Athletic are reporting that the Chicago Cubs "pursued" Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Soriano. It's not clear who the Cubs' would have included in the swap, but it's fair to assume the headliner would have been a top organizational prospect. Soriano, 27, was one of the top starting arms on the market over the trade deadline. This was despite a high walk rate and a FIP about half a run higher than his 3.24 ERA. He was particularly attractive as a starter who is controllable through 2028. Do you think the Cubs should have met the asking price for Soriano? Join the conversation in the comments! View the full article

Before the trade deadline struck midnight, rumors were swirling that the Toronto Blue Jays were open to trading the newly acquired Jose Soriano. It was news that surprised many, considering they had acquired him on August 3rd for top prospect Arjun Nimmala. Now, a week after the deadline passed, we're getting more details on what those talks entailed. Dan Hayes and Mitch Bannon of The Athletic are reporting that the Minnesota Twins "pursued" Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Soriano. They go on to say it was a "package built around the organization’s No. 3 prospect, infielder Kaelen Culpepper, and other pieces." The deal obviously couldn't get over the finish line, and so the two sides agreed on a trade involving reliever Jeff Hoffman. Culpepper has since made his major league debut with the Twins. Soriano, 27, was one of the top starting arms on the market over the trade deadline. This was despite a high walk rate and a FIP about half a run higher than his 3.24 ERA. He was particularly attractive as a starter who is controllable through 2028. Do you think the Blue Jays' asking price was too high? Join the conversation in the comments! View the full article

Before the trade deadline struck midnight, rumors were swirling that the Toronto Blue Jays were open to trading the newly acquired Jose Soriano. It was news that surprised many, considering they had acquired him on August 3rd for top prospect Arjun Nimala. Now, a week after the deadline passed, we're getting more details on what those talks entailed. Dan Hayes and Mitch Bannon of The Athletic are reporting that the Minnesota Twins "pursued" Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Soriano. They go on to say it was a "package built around the organization’s No. 3 prospect, infielder Kaelen Culpepper, and other pieces." The deal obviously couldn't get over the finish line, and so the two sides agreed on a trade involving reliever Jeff Hoffman. Of course, Culpepper has since made his major league debut. Soriano, 27, was one of the top starting arms on the market over the trade deadline. This was despite a high walk rate and a FIP about half a run higher than his 3.24 ERA. He was particularly attractive as a starter who is controllable through 2028. Do you think the Twins should have met the asking price for Soriano? Join the conversation in the comments! View the full article

The Royals activated Craig Kimbrel after officially signing him earlier in the day. In a stint with each of the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets, Kimbrel has appeared in 33 games, throwing 33 2/3 innings with 32 strikeouts and 16 walks. He has a .4.81 ERA with a 4.33 FIP. Kimbrel has recorded 440 saves throughout his 17-year major league career, with most of that time (six years) spent with the Atlanta Braves. To make room for Kimbrel on the active roster, the Royals optioned RHP Easton McGee to Triple-A Omaha. McGee has struggled in limited action in the major leagues this year, with an 8.59 ERA with a slightly better 6.36 FIP over 7 1/3 innings over six appearances, four being with the Royals and the previous two being with the Milwaukee Brewers. McGee will provide additional depth, and you could see him recalled and riding the shuttle back to Kansas City before the season is over. View the full article

The minor league season is entering its final few weeks, and the clock is ticking for the Minnesota Twins. With September approaching, the organization will soon have to determine which prospects have done enough to earn a promotion or potentially contribute at the big-league level. The timing is especially important with questions remaining on the Twins' roster. A strong finish won't guarantee a call-up, but it can certainly change the conversation as Minnesota looks toward the final weeks of the season and beyond. Here's a look at three Twins prospects who are hitting the hot button at the right time. RHP Ryan Gallagher – St. Paul Saints How He Got Here: Gallagher had originally put himself on the prospect map at Santa Barbara, where he earned Big West Conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2022. His sophomore season never happened, however, as Tommy John surgery forced him to miss the entire campaign. Gallagher returned stronger than ever. He posted a 2.22 ERA while leading all Division I pitchers with a remarkable 0.84 WHIP. That performance was enough for the Cubs to select him in the sixth round of the 2024 MLB Draft. He earned a promotion from High-A to Double-A during his first full professional season before the Cubs included him in the deal that sent Willi Castro to Chicago. Gallagher finished the 2025 season with Double-A Wichita and continued working his way through the Twins' system in 2026. Hitting the Hot Button: Gallagher delivered one of his best starts of the season Wednesday against Louisville. He allowed just one run on three hits over six innings, walking one batter while striking out a season-high nine. It was the type of outing that shows why the Twins remain intrigued by his potential. The transition to Triple-A hasn't been easy. After earning a promotion at the end of April, Gallagher posted a 7.44 ERA while allowing opponents to produce a .944 OPS across his first 13 appearances at the level. Those numbers weren't exactly screaming for another promotion. Lately, though, things have started to click. Over his last four starts, Gallagher owns a 2.49 ERA while holding opponents to a .578 OPS. The strikeout-heavy performance against Louisville is another encouraging sign that the right-hander is beginning to find his footing against more advanced hitters. There is still work to do, but Gallagher's recent stretch is exactly what the Twins want to see from a young pitcher adjusting to Triple-A. OF Walker Jenkins – St. Paul Saints How He Got Here: There aren't many prospects in the Twins organization who have generated as much excitement (or frustration over missed time) as Jenkins. Minnesota selected the North Carolina high school product fifth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft. He is currently Twins Daily’s No. 1 prospect and a consensus top-20 prospect overall in baseball. When Jenkins has been on the field, he's largely looked the part. During his age-21 season, he reached Triple-A and owns a career .863 OPS in the minor leagues. The biggest obstacle has been keeping him on the field. Even with those interruptions, Jenkins still produced at the upper levels of the organization. Last season, he posted a 135 wRC+, ranking third among Twins minor leaguers with at least 350 plate appearances. Hitting the Hot Button: Now Jenkins is healthy, and he's starting to look like the prospect Twins fans have been waiting to see. Jenkins played in six games for St. Paul last week, going 10-for-28 (.357) with a double, a triple, two home runs, and two RBI. He also recorded his first professional two-homer game Thursday against Louisville. That performance came during an impressive stretch since his return from injury on June 23. Over 32 games during that span, Jenkins is hitting .297/.357/.516 with 17 extra-base hits. That's a .873 OPS while facing the most advanced pitching he's encountered in the minor leagues. The power is showing up. The extra-base hits are piling up. Most importantly, Jenkins is getting consistent playing time. He should be in a Twins uniform in the coming weeks. RHP Merit Jones – Fort Myers Mighty Mussels/Cedar Rapids Kernels How He Got Here: Jones took a considerably different route to the Twins organization. Minnesota selected the right-hander in the 14th round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of the University of Utah. His collegiate numbers weren't particularly eye-popping, as he finished his three seasons with a 6.73 ERA and 1.72 WHIP. But there were signs of something more. Jones played in the MLB Draft League during the summer he was drafted and posted a 2.14 ERA with a 0.81 WHIP over 21 innings. Minnesota sent Jones to Fort Myers to begin the 2026 season. He has since turned that opportunity into one of the more impressive pitching performances in the organization's lower levels. Hitting the Hot Button: Jones was named the Florida State League Pitcher of the Month for July. He posted a ridiculous 0.73 ERA with 30 strikeouts over 24 2/3 innings. Across six appearances, including three starts, Jones went 3-0 while allowing just two earned runs. He led the league in innings pitched, ERA, and wins. He also ranked second in strikeouts and strikeouts per nine innings, posting a 10.95 K/9. And the scoreless streak was even more impressive. Jones didn't allow an earned run during his final four appearances of the month, covering 18 innings. During that stretch, he went 16 consecutive innings without allowing any run, earned or unearned. Jones continued the run into August. Including his August 2 outing, he went 19 innings between earned runs allowed, the fourth-longest streak in modern franchise history. For a 14th-round pick who entered the season with plenty to prove, that's quite a way to introduce yourself. The Twins will have to make some decisions soon. The minor league season is winding down, and there are only so many games remaining for prospects to continue building their cases. Gallagher is showing that he can handle the challenges of Triple-A after a difficult introduction to the level. Jones has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the lower levels of the organization. Then there's Jenkins. He might be the most important prospect in the entire organization, and his recent performance suggests that his next challenge should come at Target Field rather than CHS Field. Jenkins has already demonstrated that he can hit. Now he's demonstrating that he can stay on the field and produce consistently. The Twins may not need to wait much longer. When will Walker Jenkins make his big-league debut? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article