DiamondCentric

The Minnesota Twins have selected RHP Steele Murdock with their 5th round pick at 139th overall in the 2026 MLB Draft. The slot value for the pick is $536,900. Murdock is a right-handed pitcher out of UC San Diego. He had 104 strikeouts in 74 innings pitched this past season with the Aztecs. Murdock was ranked #140 on MLB Pipeline’s pre-draft rankings. He throws a three-pitch mix including a fastball, slider, and changeup. His fastball grades as above average, and his slider grades as a 60 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He’s touched as high as 99 mph on his fastball while his slider and changeup sit in the mid-80s. He’s had a high walk rate in college, so this is something he will need to work on at the professional level. View the full article

Angel Ramirez capped a four-run tenth inning with a walk-off single as Columbia stunned Salem 9-8. Ramon Ramirez doubled twice and drove in four runs, but Quad Cities fell 9-8 at home on a ninth-inning home run. Steven Zobac fired five scoreless innings, and Zachary Cawyer closed out a 4-3 Northwest Arkansas win. Brett Squires homered, and Henry Williams turned in a quality start, but Omaha dropped a 4-2 decision at Louisville. Kansas City Royals Transactions No Roster Moves Brett Squires Homers But Omaha Falls 4-2 At Louisville Squires provided all of Omaha's offense, but the Storm Chasers dropped a 4-2 decision to the Louisville Bats. Williams turned in a quality start in the loss, allowing three runs over six innings with five strikeouts and no walks. Louisville got to him early, opening the scoring with a solo home run in the first. The Bats added two more in the third, when a leadoff single was followed by an RBI double and an RBI single to make it 3-0. Omaha answered in the fourth. John Rave drew a leadoff walk, and Squires followed with a line-drive home run to right field, his 12th of the season, to cut the deficit to 3-2. Unfortunately, after Squires' home run, Matthew Lugo struck out, and Gavin Cross and Peyton Wilson grounded out to end the inning. The Storm Chasers never got closer in this one. Anthony Gose was dominant at times in relief, striking out five over two innings. However, he surrendered a solo home run in the eighth, extending Louisville's lead to 4-2. He also walked two. The Storm Chasers managed just five hits, including a double by Elih Marrero, and drew two walks while striking out eight times. Omaha left five men on base and went quietly over the final five innings, failing to score after Squires' blast. They went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Omaha is now 39-52 this season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Rudy Martin Jr., CF 4 0 1 0 0 2 John Rave, RF 3 1 0 0 1 0 Brett Squires, 1B 3 1 1 2 1 1 Matthew Lugo, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 2 Gavin Cross, LF 4 0 1 0 0 0 Peyton Wilson, 2B 4 0 1 0 0 0 Brandon Drury, DH 3 0 0 0 0 2 Elih Marrero, C 3 0 1 0 0 0 Andrew Velazquez, SS 3 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Henry Williams 6.0 6 3 3 0 5 1 Anthony Gose 2.0 2 1 1 2 5 1 Steven Zobac's Five Scoreless Innings Lead Naturals Past Wichita 4-3 Zobac fired five scoreless innings, and Northwest Arkansas held on for a 4-3 win over the Wichita Wind Surge. Zobac, the Royals' No. 16 prospect, allowed just three hits, walked two, and struck out four to earn the win. The Naturals broke through in the sixth, when Carson Roccaforte reached on an error, stole second base, his 17th of the season, and scored on a line-drive single by Sam Kulasingam. Northwest Arkansas added two more in the seventh. Colton Becker was hit by a pitch, moved up on a stolen base, and scored on an RBI single by Omar Hernandez. Hernandez then stole second and came home on an error when Connor Scott lined out to center, making it 3-0. Reliever Grant Gambrell ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh, allowing an RBI double and a run-scoring single that cut the lead to 3-2, though Roccaforte threw out the runner trying to stretch the hit into a double. Gambrell, who recently came over from the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association, allowed three runs over 2 2/3 innings and earned a hold. The Naturals got an insurance run in the eighth when Jack Pineda doubled, and after a walk to Kulasingam, Spencer Nivens singled him home. Wichita answered with a sacrifice fly in the bottom half, making it 4-3. Cawyer slammed the door on Wichita, retiring all four batters he faced with a strikeout to record his third save. Northwest Arkansas won despite managing just five hits and striking out 10 times. They stranded five runners and went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position. After their fourth-straight win, the Naturals improved to 36-48. Player AB R H RBI BB K Carson Roccaforte, CF 4 1 0 0 0 2 Jack Pineda, SS 3 1 1 0 1 2 Sam Kulasingam, RF 3 0 1 1 1 1 Spencer Nivens, LF 3 0 1 1 1 1 Daniel Vazquez, DH 4 0 0 0 0 1 Colton Becker, 3B 3 1 1 0 0 0 Omar HernanVázquez 4 1 1 1 0 0 Connor Scott, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 0 Justin Johnson, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 3 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Steven Zobac (W, 1-3) 5.0 3 0 0 2 4 0 Grant Gambrell (H, 1) 2.2 5 3 3 2 2 0 Zachary Cawyer (S, 3) 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Ramirez Drives In Four But River Bandits Fall 9-8 On Ninth-Inning Homer No. 6 prospect Ramirez doubled twice and drove in four runs, but the Quad Cities River Bandits let a six-run lead slip away in a 9-8 loss to the Peoria Chiefs. Quad Cities pounced early. In the first, No. 9 prospect Asbel Gonzalez walked, Nolan Sailors singled, and Ramirez laced a two-run double, his 22nd. Derlin Figueroa followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0. The River Bandits kept it going in the second, when Angel Acosta and Gonzalez singled ahead of another two-run double by Ramirez, and Luke Pelzer singled him home for a 6-0 lead. Emmanuel Reyes gave Quad Cities five innings, allowing two runs on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts. The game turned in the sixth, when Nick Conte failed to record an out and was charged with four runs as Peoria tied it 6-6. Max Martin struck out five over 2 2/3 innings and was not charged with a run, but was tagged with a blown save when inherited runners scored. The River Bandits answered. Gonzalez lifted a sacrifice fly in the sixth to make it 7-6, and Erick Torres singled home Jose Cerice in the eighth for an 8-6 lead. But in the ninth, L.P. Langevin allowed a single to make it a walk, and a three-run home run put Peoria ahead 9-8. Langevin, who's been one of the most dependable relievers in Quad Cities, took the loss and the blown save. Torres finished 2-for-4, and Gonzalez reached with a hit and two walks while scoring twice. The River Bandits stranded five runners and went 6-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Quad Cities is now 40-42 after two straight losses. Player AB R H RBI BB K Asbel Gonzalez, CF 2 2 1 1 2 0 Nolan Sailors, DH 4 1 1 0 1 1 Ramon Ramirez, C 5 2 2 4 0 2 Luke Pelzer, LF 5 0 1 1 0 2 Derlin Figueroa, 1B 4 0 1 1 0 2 Jose Cerice, 3B 4 1 1 0 0 1 Tyriq Kemp, SS 3 1 0 0 0 1 Erick Torres, RF 4 0 2 1 0 0 Angel Acosta, 2B 3 1 1 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Emmanuel Reyes 5.0 3 2 2 2 6 1 Nick Conte 0.0 2 4 4 2 0 0 Max Martin (BS, 1) 2.2 2 0 0 0 5 0 L.P. Langevin (L, 4-2)(BS, 1) 1.1 2 3 3 1 2 1 Ramirez's Walk-Off Single Caps Four-Run Tenth As Fireflies Win 9-8 Ramirez capped a four-run bottom of the tenth with a walk-off single as the Columbia Fireflies rallied past the Salem RidgeYaks 9-8. Darwin Rodriguez delivered a quality start, allowing one run on five hits over 6 2/3 innings with no walks and five strikeouts. The only blemish was a solo home run in the seventh. Columbia broke through in the fifth. Angel Ramirez drove in Connor Rasmussen on a fielder's choice, and Henry Ramos followed with an inside-the-park two-run home run, his fifth, for a 3-0 lead. In the seventh, Ramirez doubled home Jhosmmel Zue on an error, giving the Angels a run and making it 5-1. Salem tied it with four runs in the eighth off Yeri Perez and Andy Basora, then plated three in the tenth against Dash Albus, aided by a fielding error, to take an 8-5 lead. All three runs were unearned, and Albus struck out three in the inning. The Fireflies stormed back in the bottom of the tenth. With Sean Gamble as the zombie runner, Stone Russell and Yandel Ricardo walked, and Rasmussen ripped a two-run single to make it 8-7. Zue walked to load the bases, Ricardo scored the tying run on a wild pitch, and Ramirez grounded an infield single through the left side to score Rasmussen and end it. Ramirez finished 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs, and Zue went 2-for-4 with a double and a walk. Albus earned the win. The Fireflies stranded eight runners and went 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position. The win brought Columbia back to .500, as they now are 43-43 this season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Henry Ramos, LF 5 1 1 2 0 2 Sean Gamble, CF 5 1 1 0 0 2 Josh Hammond, 3B 4 0 1 0 1 1 Stone Russell, 1B 4 1 0 0 1 3 Yandel Ricardo, SS 4 1 0 0 1 2 Hyungchan Um, DH 3 0 0 0 1 1 Roni Cabrera, DH 1 0 0 0 0 1 Connor Rasmussen, 2B 3 2 1 2 2 0 Jhosmmel Zue, C 4 1 2 0 1 0 Angel Ramirez, RF 5 2 2 3 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Darwin Rodriguez 6.2 5 1 1 0 5 1 Yeri Perez (H, 2) 1.0 1 3 3 1 0 0 Andy Basora (BS, 4) 1.1 4 1 1 0 2 0 Dash Albus (W, 3-2) 1.0 2 3 0 0 3 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: DNP David Shields: DNP Josh Hammond: 1-for-4, BB, K Blake Mitchell: DNP Sean Gamble: 1-for-5, R, 2 K Ramon Ramirez: 2-for-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 K Drew Beam: DNP Carson Roccaforte: 0-for-4, R, 2 K Asbel Gonzalez: 1-for-2, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB Yandel Ricardo: 0-for-4, R, BB, 2 K Michael Lombardi: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Justin Lamkin: DNP Felix Arronde: DNP Blake Wolters: DNP Steven Zobac: W, 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K Austin Charles: DNP Daniel Vazquez: 0-for-4, K Kamden Edge: DNP Warren Calcano: DNP View the full article

When not drafting for need, as is the modus operandi for the MLB Draft, it can be tough to identify trends for a team. But for the San Diego Padres on Day 1 of the draft, there were two things that stood out: They drafted youth and left-handed bats. Will that continue on Day 2? We shall find out Sunday, when the draft resumes with Rounds 5 through 20. Saturday's first four rounds featured five Padres picks among the 135 players selected by the 30 teams. The first two were high schoolers in first-rounder Coleman Borthwick, a right-handed pitcher from Florida, and second-rounder Elliot Lascelles, a shortstop from Toronto. While it isn't hard to call prep players young, neither turns 19 until 2027. The youth comment more applies to the three college players picked. Those would be third-rounder Ryan Lynch, a right-handed starter from North Carolina, fourth-rounder Robbie Lavey, a catcher from George Washington, and fourth-round compensation pick Alex Conover, an outfielder out of Oklahoma State. All three collegians are 20 years old, with Lynch having just completed his sophomore season for the Tar Heels and the other two fresh off their junior campaigns. There always is a strategy a team executes not only in the players drafted, but in how to allocate the bonus pool. None of the five players selected sjould command an over-slot payment to either honor their commitment to college or to return for another year. Borthwick has a scholarship to Auburn waiting for him, while Lascelles is set to attend Yale. Maybe that financial strategy kicks in Sunday with some riskier moves. As a reminder, here are the slot values for the Padres' picks: First round (21st pick): $4,224,700 Second round (60th): $1,561,000 Third round (97th): $808,100 Fourth round (124th): $620,300 Fourth round (comp, 134th): $563,900 Fifth round (157th): $449,500 Sixth round (186th): $350,100 Seventh round (215th): $276,400 Eighth round (245th): $226,300 Ninth round (275th): $205,000 10th round (305th): $193,700 Players drafted in Rounds 11 through 20 have a soft cap of $150,000, with any amount over that counting against the bonus pool. That also goes for undrafted free agents, who will begin signing as soon as the final pick is made Sunday. Draft picks must sign by July 27 at 2 p.m. PT. All of the draft coverage will be carried by MLB.com, MLB.tv and MLB+ beginning at 8:30 a.m. PT. What do you think of the Padres' draft so far? Do you have a favorite pick? Is there a player they should target on Day 2? View the full article

The Timber Rattlers game was nearly a carbon copy from Friday's contest, which in the end, was unfortunate. Fantastic mound efforts abounded where Mother Nature allowed play. Reminder: Watch Jesús Made (SS) and Luis Pena (3B) in the starting lineup for the Futures Game at 11:00 AM Central on NBC. Transactions: Milwaukee Brewers recalled LHP Robert Gasser from Nashville Sounds. Milwaukee Brewers recalled RHP Garrett Stallings from Nashville Sounds. RHP Diustin Mayorquin assigned to Wilson Warbirds from ACL Brewers. ACL Brewers released C Isais Chavez. Stallings was the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader in Pittsburgh and will formally be returned to Nashville Sunday. Mayorquin, a Nicaraguan native, won't turn 19 until October, and as my fellow Link Reporter "Ro" pointed out, immediately becomes the youngest pitcher in the 12-team Carolina League. Chavez had a fine rookie season in the Dominican League in 2025 as a young 17-year-old (.783 OPS). He was placed on the restricted list this past March, was activated from that list earlier this week, and is now no longer in the organization. Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes (unavailable) Final: Nashville 4, Charlotte (White Sox) 2 Box Score and Game Log Via the Sounds, game details, and we encourage readers to always review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Pannone Spins Quality Start in Sounds Win - Miller Records Third Straight Multi-Hit Game As alluded to in the linked game summary - can't imagine a club across the entire MiLB landscape that matches the information provided daily by the Sounds (Wisconsin is a close second). Not much to see, but the final pitch for Rob Z., mound discussion, and pull from the game can be found at the 03:12:00 hour/minute mark of the game archive for MiLB.TV subscribers. These time stamps on archived games lead you to believe the games are extra-lengthy, but there is a lot of pre-game dead air within for each. The Knights' center fielder remained in the game after stumbling here - Luke Adams also walked in this game, OBP is .419. This was Adams on Adams (Mason) crime. Another one of those box scores where everyone in the lineup reached base, we've had a bunch of those across the Brewers affiliate world as of late. CF Blake Perkins singled and walked three times, LF Tyler Black singled, walked, and had a sacrifice fly. It's sweet to see Darrien Miller run with this AAA opportunity. With Jeferson Quero limited to DH duty as of late (no formal details provided) and Ramon Rodriguez on the IL since June 26th, Miller and Andrick Nava share current backstop duties. RHP Will Childers effort to strand Rob Z's two baserunners was big. Eventful evening for Luis Matos in right field: E: Matos (2, fielding). Outfield assists: Matos 2 (Weber at 1st base, Connor at home). Thomas Pannone full spin move for a pickoff at second base Black's sacrifice fly was deep to center Insurance run in the 8th courtesy of Eduardo Garcia Jett Williams watch - has now missed four games, undisclosed reason. With the MiLB All-Star Break for the full-season clubs this week, it'd be a surprise if he played Sunday. We'll see. Catch up with the latest Biloxi pre-game audio interview archives - Manager Mike Guerrero the latest Biloxi Pre-Game Media NotesFinal: Biloxi 3, Knoxville (Cubs) 1 Box Score and Game Log Via the Shuckers, game details: Owens Stars in Shuckers Saturday Night Win - Texas-born righty ties career high with 6.0 innings in 1st Double-A start, Adamczewski records multi-hit night Such a sweet swing - Spencer pointed out that the Adamczewski call from the Knoxville broadcast wasn't as nice. Video of the Fischer base hit for a 3-1 lead here: Mound work, including Yorman Galindez over the final three innings, was very impressive. Both Galindez and Owens are 23 years old. Jesús Made idle here (Futures Game, as noted above - same for Luis Pena in the Wisconsin box below). Shuckers did strike out 13 times, only Mike Boeve evaded the K list, though he went 0-for-4. Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link) Final: Beloit (Marlins) 9, Wisconsin 7 Box Score and Game Log Via the Timber Rattlers, game details: Beloit Holds on to Top Timber Rattlers - Ninth-inning rally falls short for second night in a row As fantastic as it is to immediately sit back and watch the video below, strongly suggested you read the game summary first to set up the action. The write-up includes Daniel Dickinson stats of note, and we've been tracking that for a couple of weeks now. I appreciated Chris following up Friday night's highlight with this research, I remembered this also (well, especially after being shown this!) Dickinson reached base all five times up with three stolen bases, what a heater he's on. Luiyin Alastre did his part in Luis Pena's absence, on base four times. Bitonti's blast worth another look, plus his full night included a walk, HBP and sacrifice fly. All that offense couldn't overcome a Josh Knoth stumble - what is it about the one-off poor outings immediately after winning Pitcher of the Month Awards this year? The Warbirds just posted archived interviews from earlier this month. Warbirds, Woodpeckers Suspended After Three Batters - Downpour Ends Game Early Box Score and Game Log (Thus Far) What is up with recent first inning game starts but almost immediate delays and subsequent postponements? RHP Hayden Robinson's routine wasted unless he'd surprisingly ramp back up for Sunday. Robinson, who turns 21 on Sunday, was among those discussed by Manager Eddy Morgan at the interview link above. The teams will only complete this game on Sunday. The regularly scheduled Sunday game is canceled and will not be made up. Final: DSL Brewers Blue 1, DSL LAD Mega (Dodgers) 0 Box Score and Game Log Like an oasis in a desert, this sparkling DSL pitchers' duel popped up out of nowhere but is a welcome sight. Allow your box score review to see that five pitchers combined on a four-hitter (14 K's, 4 BB's). The heaviest lifting over the first six innings came from two 17-year-olds, each making their 6th pro appearance. You're just a box score click on each pitcher's name away from learning a bit more. Blue only managed three hits, and the lone run scored on a fielder's choice in the 7th. Nothing sexy, but a triumph for pitching and clean defense on this day. Final: DSL Brewers Gold 4, DSL Reds 3 Box Score and Game Log Five teenagers combined to allow only two earned runs (7 K's, 4 BB's). None shined brighter than 2nd-year RHP Raymond Sarmiento who tossed five innings of walk-free baseball, fanning four with the only run allowed unearned. Gold rode six stolen bases without being caught and never looked back after shortstop Ricki Moneys' two-run HR oppo taco to right in the 5th, his 4th HR to lift his line to .303/.425/.541 (.966 OPS) with equal walk and K percentages of 16.4% (that's excellent for both figures!). All four full-season affiliates will be anxious to begin their breaks after today's action (play resumes on Friday). Have a great summer Sunday, everyone! 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

It is Day 2 of the MLB Draft! The Royals turned some heads by selecting Zion Rose with the No. 6 overall pick. Many projected Rose as a late first-round pick, so the decision was seen as a cost-saving move. Nonetheless, the Royals acquired an outfielder who should have an immediate impact on their farm system. Here's a list of the five players the Royals selected on Day 1: Zion Rose, OF, Louisville (No. 6 overall) Taylor Rabe, RHP, Mississippi (No. 30 overall) Jack Slightom, RHP, Lyons Township High School (IL) (No. 56 overall) Maxx Yehl, LHP, West Virginia (No. 91 overall) Dominic Battista, OF, Oswego East High School (IL) (No. 119 overall) You can find our recap and grade of the Royals' Day 1 of the Draft below. The draft continues today as an all-day affair. Here's the time of the draft and where you can watch it. • 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. ET (MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+) We will update picks on the website and in this thread. Follow Royals Keep for all your MLB Draft Day 2 coverage! View the full article

The Chicago Cubs said they would go after pitching in the 2026 MLB Draft and they lived up to their word on Day 1. The Cubs took three college pitchers—Mississippi right-hander Cade Townsend (first round), Nebraska right-hander Carson Jasa (third round) and Northwestern State right-hander Dylan Marionneaux (fourth round)—with their five selections Saturday. They also picked two college hitters in Texas A&M outfielder Cadel Sorrell and Florida State first baseman Myles Bailey. The Bailey pick was a compensation pick after the second round for losing right fielder Kyle Tucker in free agency. Sorrell was a traditional second-round selection. Townsend and Bailey were draft-eligible sophomores and all five Day 1 picks were from college. How will they follow that up Sunday? As a reminder, here are the slot values for the Cubs' selections: First round (23rd pick): $3,947,600 Second round (62nd): $1,487,200 Second round (comp., 75th): $1,120,900 Third round (98th): $800,000 Fourth round (126th): $609,200 Fifth round (159th): $441,300 Sixth round (188th): $344,400 Seventh round (217th): $272,000 Eighth round (247th): $224,100 Ninth round (277th): $204,100 10th round (307th): $193,300 Players drafted in Rounds 11 through 20 have a soft cap of $150,000, with any amount over that counting against the bonus pool. That also goes for undrafted free agents, who will begin signing as soon as the final pick is made Sunday. Draft picks must sign by July 27 at 4 p.m. CT. All of the draft coverage will be carried by MLB.com, MLB.tv and MLB+ beginning at 10:30 a.m. CT. What do you think of the Cubs' draft so far? Do you have a favorite pick? Is there a player they should target on Day 2? View the full article

Day two is here! After a busy opening night in Philadelphia, the Minnesota Twins are back at the table today to work through the back half of the 2026 MLB Draft. This is the spot to follow along, react to the picks, and talk through the board together as the Twins fill out their class. How Day 2 Works The draft was trimmed to a two-day event for the 2026 cycle. Day 1 handled Rounds 1–4 on Saturday; Day 2 covers Rounds 5 through 20 today. That's the bulk of the picks, and it's where front offices get creative — mixing high-upside prep gambles, senior-sign value plays, and money-saving college seniors to make the bonus pool math work. Speaking of the pool: Minnesota came into the draft with a $16,929,600 bonus allotment, fourth-largest in baseball. Slot values across the board rose about 2.5% from 2025, and the Twins' Day 1 investment at No. 3 overall ($9.74M slot) means how they spread the rest of the money around today will be worth watching. Quick Day 1 Recap Before we get into Day 2, here's how the Twins opened things up: Round 1 (No. 3 overall): Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech. The 2026 Johnny Bench Award winner as the nation's top catcher, Lackey hit .397 with 20 homers and 78 RBIs this spring, and pairs plus power with strong defensive tools behind the plate. The area scout who recommended him was Jack Powell. He has also recommended Byron Buxton, Niko Goodrum, Akil Baddoo, Edouard Julien, Sawyer Gipson-Long and many other Twins players and prospects. Sean Johnson said, "We've never talked about Vahn Lackey being safe. we just think he's extremely talented... We just see tremendous upside and impact on our major-league team. Those are the things we probably woke up every day in the last couple of months thinking about him is how he can impact our major-league team and our organization more than the safety of it all." Round 2 (No. 43): Carson Tinney, C, Texas. A Notre Dame-to-Texas transfer with legit 70-grade raw power (22 HR, exit velos north of 115 mph) and a patient approach, though with some swing-and-miss in the profile. Trevor Brown was the area scout who recommended Tinney. Brown is also responsible for the signing of current Twins like Kody Funderburk, Andrew Morris, and Marco Raya, and prospects such as James Ellwanger and Dasan Hill, Sean Johnson talked to media after Day 1 was complete. "We take the best player on the board, and that's what we did. I think it's the first time it's ever happened. But we weren't trying to make history or not make history. It was just where we were at on the board; That's who were thought was the best player to take. We're excited to have both of them." Of Tinney, Johnson mentioned his exit velocities and huge power. He also talked about his arm and defense. It wasn't long ago (2018) that the Twins drafted Ryan Jeffers in a similar spot in that draft, and he was said to be an offense-first catcher. However, the Twins scouts believed all along that with development, he could be good. Is the same true for Tinney? "The raw ingredients are there. He can really throw. From everything we've looked at, his defensive stuff under the hood was solid. From the Combine, his background as a catcher, he's wired to really want to work at it and improve and take steps forward." Competitive Balance B (No. 74): Brett Renfrow, RHP, Virginia Tech. The 6-foot-3 Hokies starter sits 94 and has touched 97 while working at the top of the strike zone. He's got upper-80s slider and cutter. He also throws a pretty low-80s, over-the-top curve. He also has a changeup. What can the Twins pitcher development staff do with him? John Wilson is the legendary Twins scout that recommended Renfrow. He's been in the Twins organization for more than 35 years. He's responsible for current Twins David Festa and Cody Laweryson, and prospects like Kyler Fedko, Tanner Schobel, Xavier Kolhosser, Callan Fang, and Jonathan Stevens. One of his best draft picks was LHP Ryan O'Rourke. Sean Johnson: "Really fits our mold of college starter, really good strike thrower, full mix of pitches that we think we can enhance and optimize more once we sign him. Really good make up." Round 3 (No. 79): Ethan Wachsmann, RHP, Grandview HS (Colorado). The Twins first prep pick was this 6-foot-4 right-hander sits in the mid-90s but had touched triple digits at the Combine. He throws both a curveball and a slider. He has a commitment to Wake Forest. Will he follow in the footsteps of fellow Grandview alum Kevin Gausman by going to college (LSU), or wills the Twins find enough to meet his asking price? He was recommended by area scout Chandler Wagoner. He also recommended Luke Keaschall in 2023. Sean Johnson: "A player we scouted heavily. We had a lot of people going in and out of Denver this spring. He really checks a lot of the boxes for a high school pitcher. He's got a really tremendous body, and it's only going to get better. He's a very athletic kid with really good arm action. He's got multiple spin pitches. He's got a changeup that can be really good that's only going to get better once he uses it more in pro ball. Obviously up to 100 at the Combine. We don't try to overreact to what we see at the Combine. We saw him throw plenty hard this spring. He's committed to Wake Forest. It's a guy you could easily see going to Wake Forest and coming out the other side looking like a first-round pick. To get him in the spot we did feels like a real win for the room." Round 4 (No. 107): Tommy LaPour, RHP, TCU. A wide receiver and a wrestler in high school, LaPour stuck with his best sport and attended Wichita State for his freshman year. He went to TCU the next two years. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, he is very strong and works with a heavy fastball that sits in the upper-90s. He also has reached triple-digits. He also has a mid-80s slider which can be good. He also has an upper-80s changeup. Like Renfrow, LaPour was recommended by area scout Trevor Brown. Sean Johnson: "LaPour probably goes in a little bit higher of a range on the board. A guy we liked coming into it. had a really good year last year. We tracked him back to Wichita State and high school. Football and wrestling background is interesting. He's a big guy, but he's athletic and we think he moves well. LaPour throws extremely hard, and he's got good pitch shapes to start. These are the guys that our player development really likes to work with." The Twins' Day 2 Picks Here's the slate Minnesota is working with today, along with the slot values attached to the early rounds: Round Overall Pick Slot Value 5 139 $536,900 6 168 $406,800 7 197 $319,600 8 227 $253,300 9 257 $215,400 10 287 $199,900 11–20 A key wrinkle for the late rounds: in Rounds 11–20, teams can spend up to $150,000 per pick without it counting against the bonus pool. Anything over that threshold gets deducted from the pool, which is exactly the lever clubs pull to chase a tougher sign late or to bank savings for an over-slot deal earlier in the day. View the full article

Day two is here! After getting things started in Philadelphia on Saturday, the Milwaukee Brewers are back at it today, July 12, to work through the back half of the 2026 MLB Draft. This is the spot to follow along, react to the picks, and talk through the board together as the Crew fills out its class. How Day 2 Works The draft was trimmed to a two-day event for the 2026 cycle. Day 1 covered Rounds 1–4 on Saturday; Day 2 runs Rounds 5 through 20 today. That's the bulk of the picks, and it's where front offices get creative — mixing high-upside prep gambles, senior-sign value plays, and money-saving college seniors to stretch the bonus pool as far as it will go. That last part matters more than usual for Milwaukee. The Brewers came in with a bonus pool of just $8,042,900, 25th in baseball — one of the smaller pools in the league — so they'll have to do more with less today. Expect the front office to lean on its usual playbook of under-slot deals up top (see the Ebel pick below) to free up cash for tougher signs later on. Quick Day 1 Recap Before we get into Day 2, here's how the Brewers opened up: Round 1 (No. 25 overall): Trey Ebel, SS, Corona HS (CA). A familiar name — Trey is the younger brother of Brady Ebel, whom Milwaukee took 32nd overall in 2025, and the son of longtime big-league coach Dino Ebel. The 17-year-old brings a strong hit tool, advanced defensive actions, and mature strike-zone discipline, with scouts betting on more power to come as he fills out. The Brewers also held picks at No. 102 (Round 3) and No. 130 (Round 4) to round out their opening night. (Note: Milwaukee's Competitive Balance Round B pick, No. 67, was sent to Boston in the Caleb Durbin trade.) The Brewers' Day 2 Picks Here's the slate Milwaukee is working with today, along with the slot values attached to the early rounds: Round Overall Pick Slot Value 5 163 $425,400 6 192 $333,200 7 221 $264,100 8 251 $220,400 9 281 $202,500 10 311 $191,900 11–20 one pick per round see note below A key wrinkle for the late rounds: in Rounds 11–20, teams can spend up to $150,000 per pick without it counting against the bonus pool. Anything over that threshold gets deducted from the overall pool, which is exactly the lever a budget-conscious club like Milwaukee pulls to chase a tougher sign late or to bank savings for an over-slot swing earlier in the day. View the full article

Day two is here! After getting things started in Philadelphia on Saturday, the New York Mets are back at it today to work through the back half of the 2026 MLB Draft. This is the spot to follow along, react to the picks, and talk through the board together as the Mets fill out their class. How Day 2 Works The draft was trimmed to a two-day event for the 2026 cycle. Day 1 covered Rounds 1–4 on Friday; Day 2 runs Rounds 5 through 20 today. That's the bulk of the picks, and it's where front offices get creative — mixing high-upside prep gambles, senior-sign value plays, and money-saving college seniors to stretch the bonus pool as far as it will go. That's especially true for New York this year. The Mets came in with a bonus pool of just $6,730,900, 28th in baseball — one of the smallest in the league — after their top pick slid from 29th to 27th as a penalty for exceeding the competitive balance tax surcharge thresholds. With a tight pool and no second-round pick, expect the Mets to be strategic about where they spend today. Quick Day 1 Recap Before we get into Day 2, here's how the Mets opened up (they held just three Day 1 picks): Round 1 (No. 27): Carson Wiggins, RHP, Arkansas. A boom-or-bust arm with a fastball that sits 98 and has touched 101, plus a chase-inducing slider — though he's coming off a May 2025 internal brace procedure, adding risk to the profile. Round 3 (No. 92): Aiden Robbins, OF, Texas. A potential steal who slid out of the first-round conversation; he posted a .333/.426/.696 line with 24 homers and big exit velocities at Texas. Round 4 (No. 120): Shane Sdao, LHP, Texas A&M. A senior southpaw back from Tommy John surgery, still armed with a nasty sweeper. The Mets' Day 2 Picks Here's the slate New York is working with today, along with the slot values attached to the early rounds: Round Overall Pick Slot Value 5 152 $472,500 6 181 $364,600 7 210 $287,800 8 240 $232,100 9 270 $207,200 10 300 $195,200 11–20 one pick per round see note below A key wrinkle for the late rounds: in Rounds 11–20, teams can spend up to $150,000 per pick without it counting against the bonus pool. Anything over that threshold gets deducted from the overall pool, which is exactly the lever a pool-strapped club like the Mets pulls to chase a tougher sign late or to bank savings for an over-slot swing earlier in the day. View the full article

The 2026 MLB Draft will again feature just 20 rounds. The final 16 rounds (from Rounds 5-20) will happen later today, beginning at 11:30am EST. You can catch it live on MLB Network and MLB.com. After selecting three players during the first day of the draft, the Red Sox will make 16 picks on Sunday: 156th overall (Round 5) 185th overall (Round 6) 215th overall (Round 7) Following Round 5, the Red Sox will pick 20th in every round for the remainder of the draft. Thus, their draft position is as follows: 185, 215, 245, 275, etc. Baseball is incredibly unique in the ways that address draft picks. Each team has its bonus pool which is assigned by MLB in the spring based off of league-wide revenue the previous season. Along with that, each draft pick is assigned its own slot value, which is essentially the expected cost to sign a player at that spot. Teams don't have to follow that number exactly, which is why you see teams sign players or over or under slot values. For example, in last years draft, the Los Angeles Angles had the 2nd overall selection which was valued at $10,252,700 but ultimately ended up signing their selection Tyler Bremner for only $7,689,525, nearly $3 million below the projected value of the selection. Teams can then use the money they save at the top half of the draft to lure better players with more bonus money later on in the draft. The Red Sox have $8,219,200 to play with in this year's draft, the eighth-lowest pool, with the slot value of their 20th overall pick coming in at $4,373,900. Another note regarding slot money from Baseball America: "In the MLB draft, each pick inside the first 10 rounds comes with assigned slot values. The sum of those slot values creates each team’s bonus pool. From rounds 11-20, players can sign for up to $150,000 without counting towards the bonus pool. Anything beyond that value does count towards the pool. Teams are free to sign players for more than an assigned slot value or less than an assigned slot value, though going over a bonus pool comes with penalties." It's also worth noting that with the CBA expiring this offseason and the MLB's proposal to change the draft format, this likely the last time we see the draft in the format we see it in today. Here's a brief recap of yesterday's draft picks with hyperlinks to our articles breaking down the selections in greater depth: 20th overall: Jake Schaffner SS, UNC The Red Sox's first selection in the 2026 draft in Schaffner was an under-slot, defense-and-contact-first shortstop out of the University of North Carolina. Schaffner was ranked 69 in our mock draft consensus board but provides some exciting bat-to-ball skills that play well above his age. The Red Sox's Amateur Scouting Director said of Schaffner to Alex Speier: "His offensive skillset aligns very well with our player development group. We’re confident he’ll be able to thrive in our system while playing strong defense at shortstop." To that point, Schaffner was the lowest-ranked prospect selected, so we should assume the Red Sox plan on spending that saved money elsewhere, though that remains to be seen. 67th overall: Owen Hull OF, UNC With the next selection, they went out and selected Schaffner's teammate and best friend Owen Hull. Standing at 6'4, 215, Hull provides some needed pop within the current iteration of the Red Sox farm system. Hull was ranked 71st in our mock draft consensus board and according to our Jamie Cameron, Hull "has a chance to stick in center with plus speed". 96th overall: Jace Mataczynski SS, Hudson High School (WI) The Red Sox's final selection on Day One was 18-year-old Jace Mataczynski. By all accounts, Mataczynski is much more of a development project than the first two selections in Schaffner and Hull. He's ranked 108th in our mock draft consensus board. Mataczynski possesses some exciting tools as an athlete which elevate his ceiling but according to Jamie Cameron his swing leaves something to be desired saying, "At the plate, it’s a right-handed swing that could still stand to add a touch more refinement." Mataczynski is currently committed to Auburn so the Red Sox will need to get him enough of a signing bonus to justify choosing professional baseball. We here at Talk Sox will continue to feature the Red Sox Draft Tracker, which will be kept up-to-date, not just as the draft happens, but also as we learn about the signing bonuses for each draft pick throughout the signing period. Thanks for joining us during one of the most exciting times of the season and keep coming back for updates! View the full article

On Saturday, the Blue Jays made their first three selections of the 2026 MLB Draft. You can read more about each selection by clicking on the links below: No. 39: Cole Carlon No. 103: Ryan Cooney No. 131: Will Brick Today, the draft continues, with the final 16 rounds taking place from 11:30 am to 7:30 pm Eastern. The Blue Jays lost two of their top five picks for signing a free agent who rejected the qualifying offer (Dylan Cease), but they'll have a selection to make in every round of Day 2. The action resumes with pick No. 136, belonging to the Rockies. The Blue Jays will have to wait until pick No. 164 to start their day. Here is the full list of their remaining draft slots: Round 5: No. 164 (Slot value: $421,300) Round 6: No. 193 (Slot value: $330,300) Round 7: No. 222 (Slot value: $262,300) Round 8: No. 252 (Slot value: $219,500) Round 9: No. 282 (Slot value: $202,100) Round 10: No. 312 (Slot value: $191,900) Round 11: No. 342 Round 12: No. 372 Round 13: No. 402 Round 14: No. 432 Round 15: No. 462 Round 16: No. 493 Round 17: No. 523 Round 18: No. 553 Round 19: No. 583 Round 20: No. 613 Like yesterday, you can follow the team's selections on our 2026 Draft Tracker, which we'll continue to update throughout the day and during the post-draft signing period. You can also continue to share all your thoughts in this Day 2 thread. View the full article

TRANSACTIONS The Twins claimed RHP Jack Anderson from the Boston Red Sox and assigned him to the Saints. To make room, Anthony Banda was placed on the 60-Day Injured List. Garrett Acton began his rehab with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. RHP Ricky Castro was activated from the Saints Injured List. OF Walker Jenkins was placed on the Temporary Inactive List. Worry not! He’ll be in Philadelphia, playing in the Futures Game on Sunday afternoon. He will be the starting center fielder and bat cleanup for the American League squad. Catcher Irvin Nunez was promoted from Fort Myers to Cedar Rapids. The Kernels transferred RHP Sam Rochard to the 60-Day Injured List. He’s got right labrum impingement syndrome. SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 2, Iowa 8 Box Score On Tuesday, John Klein tossed five innings against the I-Cubs to earn a win. On Saturday, he was charged with five runs on six hits. In 2 2/3 innings, he walked four and had five strikeouts. Grant Hartwig came on with two runners on and two outs in the third inning. He allowed one of the inherited runners to score. He also gave up a run in the fourth inning. Cole Sands gave up a hit in an otherwise uneventful inning. Ricky Castro returned from the IL to work two scoreless innings. Taylor Rashi got the final inning. He gave up two runs on two walks and a hit (a homer). The Saints faced a rather veteran/experienced Cubs pitching staff on Sunday. Jameson Taillon gave up just one hit and one walk over 4 2/3 innings. 35-year-old Ty Blach got the next seven outs. The final three outs were thrown by #OldFriend Liam Hendriks. The vaunted Saints offense managed two runs on just four hits and three walks. They had no extra base hits. Aaron Sabato was the lone Saints player with both a single and a walk. The daily Brett Bateman Update shares with us that the Mounds View legend went 2-for-4 with a walk. He hit a two-run triple in the second inning when the game was still close. At the end of the day, he was hitting .309/.437/.422 (.859) with 15 doubles, two triples, two home runs, and 18 stolen bases in 67 games. And he also played tremendous defense. For more on Bateman and other prospects in the (former Twins outfield prospect) Jason Kanzler-led Cubs farm system, check out our sister site North Side Baseball. Many of the Iowa Cubs are in their Top 20 Cubs Prospect rankings, including #11 prospect James Triantos who went 1-for-2 with two walks. He’s also hitting .309. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 3, Northwest Arkansas 4 Box Score Through five innings, this game was scoreless. Preston Johnson walked two batters over four scoreless, hitless innings. He struck out five. Spencer Bengard pitched a scoreless fifth inning before giving up an unearned run. Jaylen Nowlin gave up two runs (1 earned) on one hit and a hit batter in the seventh inning. He had two strikeouts. Paulshawn Pasqualotto gave up one run on three hits and a walk over the final two innings. The Naturals scored one run in the top of the sixth and two more runs in the top of the seventh inning. Down 3-0, the Surge mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Brandon Winokur singled. He scored on Garrett Spain’s 17th double. He moved to third base on a bunt single by Kyle DeBarge. Spain scored on a single by Caden Kendle to make it 3-2. Northwest Arkansas added one run in the top of the eighth inning. Marek Houston led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk. He went to third base on a Khadim Diaw single. Andrew Cossetti walked to load the bases. Billy Amick flew out to left field, deep enough for Houston to score and make it a one-run game. Diaw advanced to third base on the play. Unfortunately, a strikeout and a ground out ended the threat. The Surge went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth and fell 4-3, their fourth straight loss. They have nine wins in the past 46 games. Wichita scored their three runs on eight hits and four walks. Unfortunately, they were just 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Garrett Spain had the lone extra base hit, his 17th double. Khadim Diaw and Jay Thomason were both 2-for-4. Marek Houston and Caden Kendle were both 1-for-3 with a walk. Andrew Cossetti went 0-for-2 with two walks. Seven players on the NW Arkansas roster are in the Royals Keep Top 20 prospect rankings. Five of them are pitchers. #14 prospect Felix Arronde started for the Naturals and gave up one run on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. KERNELS CHRONICLE Cedar Rapids 11, South Bend 7 Box Score There was no score in this game through three innings. Over the next two innings, the Kernels scored five runs to make it 5-0. The Cubs scored three runs in the top of the sixth and again in the top of the seventh inning. In the Kernels half of the seventh, they put six on the scoreboard to take an 11-6 lead, plenty for their bullpen to hold on. Adrian Bohorquez started and threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings. He gave up two hits, walked one and had five strikeouts. Michael Ross came in with two on and two out in the third inning. He was then charged with three runs in the sixth and three runs in the seventh. He got two outs in that seventh inning. Brian Zeldin got out of that inning, but he was credited with one run on two hits and a walk. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Eduardo Tait led off with a single. Enrique Jimenez drove him in with a double. He advanced to third on a throwing error. With one out, Danny De Andrade singled in Jimenez to make it 2-0. Rayne Doncon started the bottom of the fifth inning with a walk. With one out, Dameury Pena singled to right, but Doncon was thrown out at third base for the inning’s second out. Yasser Mercedes drove in Pena with his ninth double. After a pitching change, Tait’s 17th double drove in Mercedes. Jimenez walked, and then Henry Kusiak doubled in Tait to make it 5-0. After falling behind 6-5, the Kernels came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning. Yasser Mercedes started the inning by reaching on an error. Tait walked. Both runners advanced on a balk, and Jimenez walked to load the bases. With one out, De Andrade’s 10th double drove in two runs to put the Kernels back in the lead at 7-6. Jose Salas followed by hitting a homer for the second night in a row. On Friday night, it was a grand slam. On Saturday, it was “just” a three-run homer. Later in the inning, Yasser Mercedes drove in Graham Brown with a single to make it 11-6 and close out the scoring. Cole Peschl struck out two batters in a perfect ninth inning. After hitting a double and two triples on Friday, Danny De Andrade hit a single, his 10th double, and his fifth triple on Saturday night. Jose Salas hit his second home run in as many days and went 2-for-5. Mercedes went 2-for-5 with his ninth Kernels double and two RBI. Tait went 2-for-4 with a walk and his 17th double. Jimenez went 1-for-2 with three walks and a double. Kusiak added his fifth double. Five South Bend Cubs players are on the Northside Baseball Top 20 Cubs Prospect rankings.19-year-old Josiah Hartshorn, the #4 prospect, will be participating in the Futures Game on Sunday. #7 prospect Kane Kepley went 1-for-4 with a walk, and his 41st stolen base. #14 prospect MIGHTY MATTERS Game 1: Ft. Myers 0, Bradenton 2 (8 innings) Box Score These teams had not played the last two days because of rain. So, maybe it’s understandable that through the seven scheduled innings of the first game, the bats were almost completely silent. Reed Moring started and gave up two hits and two walks over three scoreless innings. He struck out five batters. Garrett Acton’s first rehab appearance went well. He had a strikeout in a perfect inning. Callan Fang came on and gave up two hits, walked two batters and hit another over two scoreless innings. He had three strikeouts. Mike McKenna had a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Michael Hilker came in for the eighth inning. He allowed the Manfred Man to score and another run on two hits. Unfortunately, the Mussels were unable to get anything going. They had just three hits and a walk over the game’s eight innings. Luis Fragoza had two of the three singles. Byron Chourio had the other. Quentin Young walked. Game 2: Ft. Myers 3, Bradenton 2 Box Score 13 innings. After not scoring for eight innings in the first game, the Mussels started Game 2 with five scoreless innings. Fortunately, Justin Mitrovich was up to the challenge. The right-hander gave up just one hit over 4 2/3 scoreless innings. He walked two and had seven strikeouts. Julian Merryweather continued his rehab assignment. He got the final out of the fifth inning. In the sixth, he gave up two runs (1 earned) on three hits. He struck out three batters. Bradenton scored two runs in the top of the sixth. The Mussels responded in the bottom of the sixth inning by ending their offensive drought. Miguel Briceno led off with a walk. He went to third base on Ramiro Dominguez’s 14th double. Jayson Bass grounded to short. Briceno scored but Dominguez was out trying to advance to third. With two outs, Luis Fragoza hit his 11th double which drove in Bass with the tying run. Brent Francisco came in for the top of the seventh. He got a strikeout and two ground outs. The bottom of the seventh inning began with a Ricardo Paez walk. After a strikeout, Ricardo Pena was hit by a pitch. After a pitching change, Briceno walked to load the bases. Dominguez came to the plate and lined a single to right to drive in Paez with the game-winning run. The Mussels again only had three hits. However, they walked five times in Game 2. Ramiro Dominguez went 2-for-4 with his 14th double. Luis Fragoza hit his 11th double. Briceno walked twice. COMPLEX CHRONICLES FCL Twins 7, FCL Red Sox 3 Box Score The Twins scored two runs in the first inning. The Red Sox scored three in the second inning. The Twins responded with three in the third and two more in the fourth to take a lead and hung on for the win. Yovanny Duran led off the bottom of the first inning with a single. Jake Rucker walked. Duran went to third on a fly out. Rucker stole second, and both runners scored on a throwing error. Michael Carpenter was back on the mound for another rehab start. He was much improved compared to his previous appearance. He struck out two batters in a perfect inning. Melvin Rodriguez came on as the bulk pitcher again. He gave up three runs in the second inning but then settled in. In four innings, he gave up three runs on three hits (2 homers), a walk, and three hit batters. He also had eight strikeouts. Duran led off the third inning with a walk and stole second. Rucker walked. The two were successful on a double steal. After two strikeouts, Miguel Caraballo walked to lead the bases. Duran scored on a passed ball to tie the game at three. Darwin Almanzar walked to reload the bases. After a pitching change, Joyner Perez singled to drive in two runs and make it 5-3. Duran led off the fourth inning with a double. Rucker walked. Carlos Taveras reached on an error to load the bases. Jhomnardo Reyes grounded out, but Duran scored. Caraballo then lifted a fly ball to right field, deep enough for Rucker to score the team’s seventh run. Brad Rudis walked one and struck out one batter over two scoreless, hitless innings. The Twins scored their seven runs on just four hits, but they had 11 walks. Rehabbing Jake Rucker went 0-for-1 with three walks, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Jhomnardo Reyes, Darwin Almanzar, and Victor Leal each walked twice. Duran went 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored. DSL Twins 9, DSL Nationals 3 Box Score The Twins scored nine runs on eight hits and were largely helped by 12 walks. Juan Collado started for the Twins. He gave up three, first-inning runs but then tossed two scoreless innings. Overall, he gave up three runs on five hits (2 homers) and had one strikeout. Alam Soriano came in and finished the game. He gave up just one hit and no walks over four scoreless innings. He had five strikeouts to earn the Win. All nine Twins hitters reached base at least once. The first four hitters (Daiyer Barboza, Jendy Martinez, Jhon Gonzalez, Enmanuel Merlo) walked twice. Fifth hitter Abel Sosa went 2-for-3 with a walk and his second double. Juan Holmann batted sixth. He went 3-for-5 with his seventh double, third home run, two runs, and five RBI. He stole his 13th bag of the season. Luis Duarte walked once. Jeferson Abreu went 2-for-3 with a walk and his first double. Fabian Ulloa went 1-for-3 with a walk, and he stole his fourth base. . PLAYERS OF THE DAY Hitter(s) of the Day Danny De Andrade (Cedar Rapids): 3-for-5, 2B(10), 3B(5), R, 3 RBI, K Juan Holmann (DSL Twins): 3-for-4, 2B(7), HR(3), 2 R, 5 RBI, K, SB(13) Pitcher(s) of the Day Preston Johnson (Wichita): 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 65 pitches, 41 strikes (63.1%) Alam Soriano (DSL Twins): 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, PROSPECT SUMMARY Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did today. #4 - C Eduardo Tait (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-4, BB, 2B(17), 3 R, RBI, 2 K #5 - SS Marek Houston (Wichita) - 0-for-3, BB, R, 2 K (batted first, played SS) #9 - OF Hendry Mendez (St. Paul) - 0-for-3, BB, K (batted fourth, played DH) #10 - OF Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul) - 0-for-4, RBI, K (batted sixth, played LF) #12 - 3B/CF Brandon Winokur (Wichita) - 1-for-4, R, K, OF Assist (batted fifth, played CF) #13 - C/OF Khadim Diaw (Wichita) - 2-for-4 (batted second, played catcher) #14 - 3B/SS Quentin Young (Ft. Myers) - Game 1: 0-for-2, BB (batted sixth, played SS) #18 - OF Yasser Mercedes (Cedar Rapids) - 2-for-5, 2B(9), 2 R, 2 RBI, SB(24), 2 K (batted first, played RF) #19 - 1B/3B Billy Amick (Wichita) - 0-for-3, SF RBI (batted fourth, played 3B) #20 - 2B/SS Kyle DeBarge (Wichita) - 1-for-4 (batted seventh, played 2B) UPCOMING PROBABLES Sunday, July 11 St. Paul @ Iowa (1:08 pm CT) - LHP Aaron Rozek (2-1, 3.42 ERA) NW Arkansas @ Wichita (1:05 pm CT) - RHP Chris Vallimont (0-1, 5.40 ERA) South Bend @ Cedar Rapids (1:05 pm CT) - LHP Dasan Hill (1-6, 6.14 ERA) Bradenton @ Ft. Myers (11:05 am CT) - RHP Merit Jones (3-1, 4.33 ERA) CURRENT W-L Records Minnesota Twins: 47-49 St. Paul Saints: 49-41 Wichita Wind Surge: 28-56 Cedar Rapids Kernels: 35-48 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 46-37 FCL Twins: 28-23 DSL Twins: 8-20 Please feel free to ask questions about the teams, the rosters, and discuss today’s games, or anything else Twins minor-league related! View the full article

Thanks to a rainout for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, the four full-season San Diego Padres affiliates went 2-1 Saturday. The Double-A San Antonio Missions won 10-9 over Midland, the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps lost 4-2 to West Michigan and the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm cruised to an 8-2 win over Rancho Cucamonga. Padres Minor-League Transactions San Diego Padres optioned RHP Jhony Brito to El Paso Chihuahuas. El Paso Chihuahuas activated 2B Victor Duarte from the Development List. El Paso Chihuahuas transferred 2B Nate Mondou to the Development List. San Antonio Missions placed C Ethan Salas on the temporarily inactive list (Futures Game). San Antonio Missions activated OF Kai Murphy from the Development List. Chihuahuas-Comets Rained Out The Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas were rained out in their game against the host Oklahoma City Comets. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Aug. 26. Luis Verdugo's 3-Run Blast In Eighth Lifts Missions Luis Verdugo hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the top of the eighth inning as the Double-A San Antonio Missions rallied past the host Midland RockHounds 10-9. Ryan Jackson had three hits and scored three times, Braedon Karpathios (Padres Mission's No. 9 prospect) was on base four times with two hits and two walks and Francisco Acuna had a pair doubles and a walk. Karpathios and Verdugo also scored twice. While the bullpen, led by right-handers Tucker Musgrove, Padres Mission's 12 prospect, and Garrett Hawkins, Padres Mission's No. 17 prospect, pitched four innings without allowing an earned run, left-handed starter Jagger Haynes, Padres Mission's No. 10 prospect, and right-handed reliever Bernard Jose gave up eight runs on 10 hits with four walks, with Jose giving up a homer. Hawkins, in his fourth Missions appearance after starting the season in El Paso, picked up his first save of the season after notching 10 in as many chances last year. The Missions were down 6-2 after three innings, then traded punches with the RockHounds, who were up 8-5 after five, before El Paso got two more in the sixth on a Jake Cunningham run-scoring grounder and Karpathios' RBI single. Jackson opened the eighth with his third single of the game, prompting a pitching change. After a flyout and a strikeout, Karpathios walked and Verdugo smashed his no-doubt, three-run blast down the left-field line to put the Missions up 10-8. SA_0711.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Carson Tucker 6 0 1 1 0 2 Ryan Jackson 5 3 3 0 0 1 Tirso Ornelas 4 0 1 0 1 2 Jake Cunningham 4 1 1 1 0 1 Braedon Karpathios 3 2 2 1 2 1 Luis Verdugo 4 2 2 3 0 1 Francisco Acuna 4 1 2 1 1 1 Kai Roberts 3 1 0 0 1 2 Chris Sargent 5 0 1 1 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jagger Haynes 3 7 6 6 3 1 0 Bernard Jose 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 Tucker Musgrove 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 Harry Gustin (W) 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 Clay Edmondson (H) 2/3 1 1 0 1 0 0 Garrett Hawkins (S) 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 3 0 Bryan Balzer Strikes Out 8, But TinCaps Outdone By Whitecaps Right-hander Bryan Balzer struck out a career-high eight and turned in the best of his three starts since being promoted to High-A Fort Wayne, but the TinCaps couldn't generate enough offense to get him a win in falling to the host West Michigan Whitecaps 4-2. The TinCaps were held hitless through five innings. Leadoff hitter Justin DeCriscio, last year's 10th-round draft choice, went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI, but was the only TinCap to reach base multiple times as they were outhit by the Whitecaps 10-5. This was DeCriscio's 16th multihit game this season and put his hitting streak at eight games. Balzer, an international free agent, went five innings, allowing just a run on five hits and a walk with those eight punchouts. He struck out seven in his season debut April 2 vs. Ontario. Balzer had a combined eight strikeouts in 7⅓ innings in his first two TinCaps starts, but gave up nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits and six walks, including five in his debut June 27. He was much better in his start before the All-Star break. Unfortunately, right-hander Nick Falter, given a 2-1 lead, couldn't hold the advantage, giving up a pair of runs in the sixth and another in the seventh in his two innings. Right-hander Will Koger pitched a perfect eighth, striking out two. The TinCaps finally got their first hit of the game when Jack Costello's single led off the sixth, the first of three consecutive hits. That was followed by Kasen Wells' RBI double, DeCriscio's single and a run-scoring wild pitch that brought in Wells to put the TinCaps up 2-1. But the rally ended there as Ryan Wideman, Alex McCoy and Luke Cantwell were retired. The only other hits the TinCaps would get would be DeCriscio's eighth-inning double and McCoy's ninth-inning single. FW_0711.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Justin DeCriscio 3 0 2 1 1 0 Ryan Wideman 4 0 0 0 0 2 Alex McCoy 4 0 1 0 0 2 Luke Cantwell 4 0 0 0 0 1 Rosman Verdugo 3 0 0 0 1 2 Kerrington Cross 4 0 0 0 0 0 Carlos Rodriguez 3 0 0 0 0 1 Jack Costello 3 1 1 0 0 0 Kasen Wells 3 1 1 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Bryan Balzer 5 5 1 1 1 8 0 Nick Falter (L) 2 5 3 3 1 3 0 Will Koger 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Dylan Grego's 4-Hit Night, Tyler Schmitt's Pitching Propel Storm Dylan Grego went 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs, while right-handed starter Tyler Schmitt had five strong innings as the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm rolled to an 8-2 triumph over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Yimy Tovar, Yoiber Ocopio, Alcides Hernandez and Qrey Lott each had two hits, with Hernandez driving in a pair, while Grego and Conner Westenburg scored twice. Schmitt and Storm pitching were on point, with the starter yielding just a run on four hits and no walks while fanning five over five innings. Right-handers Jordan Valenzuela and Jeferson Villabona each went two innings, with Valenzuela allowing just a hit and a walk with two strikeouts and Villabona four punchouts while giving up a run on two hits. Grego singled home Tovar in the top of the first, then Hernandez drove home a pair in the top of the third with a single to make it 3-0. The Quakes scored once in the bottom of the third, but the Storm added two in the fifth on Grego's solo homer, his third with the Storm and fourth of the year, and a wild pitch. Three more runs came in the eighth on Grego's RBI single, Lott's bases-loaded walk and Tovan's run-scoring infield chopper. LE_0711.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Yimy Tovar 6 1 2 1 0 1 Jorge Quintana 6 0 1 0 0 2 Dawson Willis 6 0 1 0 0 5 Yoiber Ocopio 4 1 2 0 2 2 George Bilecki 6 1 1 0 0 3 Dylan Grego 5 2 4 3 1 1 Conner Westenburg 5 2 1 0 1 2 Alcides Hernandez 4 1 2 2 1 1 Qrey Lott 2 0 2 1 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Tyler Schmitt (W) 5 4 1 1 0 5 0 Jordan Valenzuela 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 Jeferson Villabona 2 2 1 1 0 4 0 Padres Mission's Top 20 Prospect Performance Ethan Salas: DNP Kash Mayfield: DNP Miguel Mendez: DNP Ryan Wideman: 0-for-4, 2 K Kruz Schoolcraft: DNP Jorge Quintana: 1-for-6, 2 K Ty Harvey: On injured list Kale Fountain: Injured, out for season Braedon Karpathios: 2-for-3, 1 K Jagger Haynes: 3 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 1 K Lamar King Jr.: DNP Tucker Musgrove: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K Truitt Madonna: DNP Alex McCoy: 1-for-4, 2 K Jesus Castro: DNP Rosman Verdugo: 0-for-3, 2 K Garrett Hawkins: 1⅓ IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, S Eric Yost: DNP Michael Salina: DNP Winyer Chourio: DNP View the full article

It was an interesting first day of the MLB Draft for the Kansas City Royals. Tied to prep players like Eric Booth Jr. and Jacob Lombard, and college players like Drew Burress and Jackson Flora, they surprised everyone by selecting Zion Rose, an outfielder from the University of Louisville. Rose was the 26th-ranked draft prospect in Jamie Cameron's Mock Draft on Diamondcentric. Many experts thought that the Royals would be in play for Rose at No. 30, their Competitive Balance A pick. However, drafting the 21-year-old outfielder at No. 6 was seen as a reach, especially with Boot and Burress still on the board. Was Rose a bad pick, or did the fans' expectations that the Royals would select Burress or Booth overwhelm them? And how did his selection affect the Royals' other selections on Day One? Rose Brings Contact-Heavy and Athletic Profile to Outfield (At Underslot Value) The reality is that the Royals need help in the outfield. Sean Gamble is the Royals' highest-rated outfield prospect at No. 5, but he's in Low-A ball, and he may be a guy who moves slowly as he continues to develop and adjust to professional pitching (he's been hitting well since June 1st). Carson Roccaforte and Asbel Gonzalez are Top-10 prospects, but they have their share of flaws that could hold them back (strikeouts for Roccaforte; power for Gonzalez). Beyond those three? There are no other outfielder prospects in the Royals' Top 20 at Royals Keep. Thus, Rose not only changes that but is also a player who could move quickly through the Royals' farm system, given his experience with the Cardinals. Last year, the Royals' first-round pick missed time with an injury and played only 36 games, 30 fewer than his total in 2025. However, despite only getting 173 plate appearances, he slashed .421/.491/.646 with a 1.137 OPS and 147 wRC+. He also stole 24 bases on 27 attempts and hit six home runs. For context, in 301 plate appearances in 2025, Rose hit .310 with a .948 OPS, 109 wRC+, 13 home runs, and 31 stolen bases. In terms of his strengths, the Louisville outfielder shows incredible contact skills and can draw a walk. He had a 1.27 BB/K ratio last year, highlighted by an 8.7% K rate, a career best. Rose makes contact, hits line drives, steals bases, and shows strong defense in the corners, which is impressive, considering he initially came to campus as a catcher. Even though he wasn't a "projected" Top-10 pick, Rose checks off many of the boxes the Royals value in position players. That goes beyond the draft, as Lane Thomas and Isaac Collins were also examples of veteran players with profiles similar to Rose's. The good thing with Rose is that he likely will sign underneath the expected slot bonus of $7.7 million at pick No. 6. Hence, the Royals not only got the outfielder with the profile they wanted, but they also were able to save some money that could be spread out on bonuses given out to other selections in this draft. Rabe, Slightom, and Yehl Are High Upside Arms (Helped by the Rose Selection) At pick No. 30, the Royals selected Taylor Rabe, a 21-year-old righty from Ole Miss. Rabe is not only a big arm (6'5), but he demonstrated excellent command (7.00 K/BB ratio) and ability to strike batters out (34.2% K%). In 17 appearances (11 starts) and 76.1 IP, he posted a 3.55 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 3.75 FIP. Rabe's ranking was a bit all over the place before the MLB Draft. Cameron had him ranked No. 36 at Diamondcentric, and MLB Pipeline ranked him 40th. However, Baseball America was a little more optimistic about his outlook, ranking him 26th. Thus, Rabe could be seen as a good-to-great overslot selection, depending on the ranking. Regardless, there's mid-rotation upside with Rabe at the very least, and he could be a pitcher who could move quickly, something they need considering the dearth of quality starting arms in Double-A and Triple-A. As for their second-round pick, Jack Slightom is a bit more of a project. He just turned 18 in April, and he's an Illinois prep product who will likely begin in the Complex League this year and advance to Low-A ball in 2027. However, he's the pitching prospect that could be a success story, much like David Shields, our No. 2 prospect at Royals Keep. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== Here's what Cameron said about Slightom in his Mock Draft article: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== This is another pick who will likely sign an overslot deal, much like Rabe. Rose's expected savings paved the way for two high-upside, high-cost selections like Rabe and Slightom. Yehl, the Royals' third-round selection, won't be an overslot deal. If anything, he'll probably agree to a deal below the expected $872.9K slot bonus. However, the 22-year-old is a polished and proven lefty who can move quickly and strike out guys in bunches. In 18 starts and 97 IP, Yehl posted a 2.13 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 4.07 FIP, 27.9% K%, and a 4.31 K/BB ratio. He was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year after missing all of 2025 due to Tommy John surgery. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== Yehl's professional outlook is still a little hazy. Some believe he can be a middle-to-bottom-of-the-rotation starter, while others believe he carries some reliever risk (hence his falling to the third). Nonetheless, Yehl is a quality arm that can help the Royals quickly, which is a benefit considering their starter and bullpen struggles in Double-A, Triple-A, and even the Major Leagues. How Would We Rate Day One? In the fourth round, the Royals selected Dominic Battista, a prep outfielder from Illinois who ranked outside most experts' Top-100 lists. This selection was likely a cost-saver (i.e., under-slot). Still, Battista has some athleticism and tools, and his draft stock was primarily hurt by a hamate injury that forced him to miss 10 games in his senior year at Oswego East High School. If fully healthy, he could've been a 2nd or 3rd-round selection. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== Battista is a University of Illinois-Chicago commit, and the Royals had success with Luke Pelzer, a UIC product, in last year's draft. Pelzer is hitting .342 with a 136 wRC+ in High-A Quad Cities, and he'll likely move up to Northwest Arkansas after the All-Star Break. Overall, there's a strong balance of talent from Day One of the MLB Draft for the Royals. They selected proven guys who can move quickly (Rose and Rabe), some prep guys with upside (Slightom and Battista), and a big arm with big stuff who could develop into a starter with the right pitcher development in the next year or two. That's a Day One to be happy about, especially for a Royals farm system that needs help in Double-A sooner rather than later. At the same time, the Royals' Day One feels a little underwhelming. The Royals could've drafted a big, high-upside guy with star potential at No. 6. That could've been a college guy like Burress or a prep one like Booth or Lombard. And yet, they chose the "cheaper" option in Rose. It's not a bad selection by any means, because Rose has all the tools to be a successful outfielder for the Royals. Plus, Rose has the intangibles and makeup to develop quickly in the farm system. Joe Doyle talked about Rose maybe being the best "sleeper" pick in this draft and could surprise a lot of folks who criticized the Royals for drafting Rose at No. 6. And yet, it feels like the Royals could've done a better job of drafting for "more" upside, especially in their first two selections. Thus, this Day One feels like a passing grade, but not much more, unfortunately. Day One Grade: C+ View the full article

The Boston Red Sox have designated left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe for assignment on Saturday after he went two innings against the Mets and walked three. Coulombe struggled through the 2026 season producing a 4.95 ERA in 20 innings of work with a 1.50 WHIP and an 11.4% strikeout rate versus a bloated 13.6% walk rate. The underlying numbers backed up his performance this season, as he produced a 4.71 FIP and a 5.91 SIERA. Coulombe was brought in as lefty help in the spring, with only closer Aroldis Chapman profiling as a legitimate left-handed option, but he did not meet the expectations set for him. One interesting note from Chris Cotillo, who broke the DFA news: So it seems that beyond his play this season, there was legitimate financial incentive for the Red Sox to make this move. No corresponding transaction has been announced yet. View the full article

Fish On First LIVE discusses why selecting Jacob Lombard is well worth the risk for the Marlins and how his projected overslot bonus will impact the rest of their 2026 draft class.View the full article

Chicago Cubs Minor League Report Affiliate Overview Triple-A Iowa Cubs Series vs. St. Paul Saints (Minnesota Twins): Cubs lead, 3-1 Season Record: 38–50-1 Double-A Knoxville Smokies Series vs. Biloxi Shuckers (Milwaukee Brewers): Smokies lead, 3-1 Season Record: 49–36 High-A South Bend Cubs Series at Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota Twins): Cubs lead, 3-1 Season Record: 48–33 Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Series vs. Fredericksburg Nationals (Washington Nationals): Tied, 2-2 Season Record: 35–48 Triple-A: Iowa Cubs Season Record: 38–50-1 Series Opponent: St. Paul Saints (49-40) Series Standing: Lead, 3-1 July 10: The Iowa Cubs clinched at least a series split with a 7-4 victory on Friday night over the St. Paul Saints at Principal Park. The win pushes the Cubs’ winning streak to three games, their longest since winning four-straight contests from May 23-27. The Saints plated three runs in their first trip to the dish but Iowa was able to rally for four runs in the second to take the lead. Christian Bethancourt (3-for-4) got the Cubs on the board with an RBI-double and James Triantos (1-for-3) and Hayden Cantrelle (1-for-4) followed with RBI-singles. Brett Bateman’s (2-for-4) bunt-single brought home Iowa’s fourth run, which would give the home team the lead for good. Iowa would make it a three-run game with two in the fifth, scoring on a wild pitch with Bethancourt picking up his second RBI of the ballgame on a single. Cubs No. 3 prospect (North Side Baseball) Jaxon Wiggins made his first start for the I-Cubs since April 4 and took no decision. Wiggins allowed three runs on three hits over 2 2/3 innings of work to go along with three walks and four strikeouts. Zac Leigh earned the win in relief to improve to 3-2 on the season, tossing 1 1/3 scoreless frames, giving up just one hit and whiffing two batters. Owen Miller (2-for-5) made it a 7-3 game with a run-scoring single in the sixth before St. Paul pulled a run back in the seventh to make it 7-4. Eduarniel Nuñez tossed the final two innings to earn his second save of the season, retiring all six of the batters he faced, four via a punchout. Double-A: Knoxville Smokies Season Record: 49–36 Series Opponent: Biloxi Shuckers (44–37) Series Standing: Lead, 3-1 July 10: The Knoxville Smokies clinched at least a series split with a 7-3 triumph over the Biloxi Shuckers on Friday night at Covenant Health Park. The Shuckers opened the scoring with a run in the third but the Smokies responded with a pair of runs in the home half of the frame to take the lead. Owen Ayers’ (3-for-5) RBI-single tied the game and Carter Trice (2-for-3) put Knoxville in front with a sacrifice fly. Biloxi would score twice in the top of the fifth to go ahead 3-2 but again the Smokies were able to prevent a shutdown inning, with Trice’s RBI-single knotting the game at 3-3. Jefferson Rojas (0-for-3) got the home team back in front with a sacrifice fly of his own in the sixth to make it 4-3. Knoxville sealed the win with three big insurance runs in the eight, with Ayers plating two on a single and Trice, also collecting his third RBI of the night, driving in another run with his second sacrifice fly of the ballgame to make it 7-3. Evan Taylor tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to end the game, earning his third save of the season. Taylor allowed just one hit and struck out three batters. Dawson Netz got the start on the mound for the Smokies and took no decision. Netz allowed three runs on four hits over five innings of work, whiffing five batters without issuing a walk. High-A: South Bend Cubs Season Record: 48–33 Series Opponent: Cedar Rapids Kernels (34–48) Series Standing: Lead, 3-1 July 10: The South Bend Cubs clinched at least a series split with a dominant 18-8 victory at the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Cubs scored three times in their first trip to the plate, getting their runs on a passed ball, wild pitch and an RBI-single from Jose Escobar (2-for-5). The Kernels would grab one of those runs back in the bottom of the first and cut the lead to one after another run in the second but South Bend would score seven times in the third to make it 10-2. Matt Halbach (3-for-6) got the frame started with an RBI-single and Christian Olivo (1-for-5) was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Kane Kepley (1-for-5) drove in two with a single and Josiah Hartshorn (2-for-5) also brought home a pair with a triple to cap the frame. Cedar Rapids rallied for four runs of their own in the home half of the third and scored two more in the fifth to make it 10-8. A two-run double from Logan Poteet (2-for-5) and an RBI-double from Olivo in the seventh made it 13-8 and the Cubs would eventually put the game away with a five-spot in the ninth. Miguel Useche (2-for-4) tripled home a run and Poteet followed with an RBI-double. South Bend scored its third run of the ninth on an error and Angel Cepeda (2-for-5) capped the 18-run outburst with a two-run single. Pierce Coppola got the start for the Cubs and took no decision. Coppola allowed six runs on four hits over three innings of work to go along with four walks and two strikeouts. Ethan Flanagan would eventually pick up the win in relief to improve to 2-3 on the season. Flanagan tossed four scoreless frames, allowing just two hits while issuing just one walk and whiffing seven batters. Offensively, eight of the nine South Bend starters tallied a hit in the game, with six putting together multi-hit efforts. Eight of the nine starters also drove in at least one run. Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans Season Record: 35–48 Series Opponent: Fredericksburg Nationals (56–29) Series Standing: Tied, 2-2 July 10: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans dropped Friday night’s contest to the Fredericksburg Nationals, 9-7, at Pelicans Ballpark. The Nationals took a 2-0 lead after one but the Pelicans rallied for three in the third to take their first lead of the contest. Alexis Hernandez (1-for-5) got Myrtle Beach on the board with an RBI-single and Ludwing Espinoza (1-for-5) slugged a two-run blast, his first-career Single-A home run, to put the home team in front. Fredericksburg plated two in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead but the Pelicans also scored twice in the home half of the frame to go back in front, thanks to RBI-singles from Edward Vargas (2-for-3) and Derik Alcantara (1-for-4). The Nationals would go in front for good with three runs in the fifth and would later add two more in the eighth to go up 9-5. Myrtle Beach would also score twice in the eighth, off an RBI-double from Jose Silva (1-for-3) and an Alcantara groundout, but would not rally further, ultimately dropping the ballgame. Braylon Myers got the start for the Pelicans on the mound and would take no decision. Myers allowed four runs on four hits over four innings of work, walking four batters and striking out three. View the full article

The New York Mets entered day one of the 2026 MLB Draft with just three picks, including just one in the top 90. And yet, they found a way to bring in a trio of players who could all have a long future within the organization. With Carson Wiggins at 27, the Mets ended a four-year drought of selecting a pitcher in the first round. (Kumar Rocker was selected with their tenth overall pick in the 2020 draft.) Here’s an overview of their day one picks: No. 27. Carson Wiggins, RHP, Arkansas Slot value: $3,466,500 Here’s an excerpt of our write-up on Wiggins from our DiamondCentric consensus board: His fastball will sit at 98 mph, but has grabbed 101 mph. There’s a chase inducing slider with a ton of depth, and a sparsely used changeup in the mix, too. Wiggins managed 14 IP as a freshman, with a 2.98 FIP, 33.9 K%, and 15.3 BB%, I’d expect the pro journey to be similar to Jaxon’s strike-throwing concerns with elite arm talent and upside. Wiggins comes with a high ceiling and considerable injury risk. If his last name rings a bell, he’s the younger brother of Jaxon Wiggins (currently ranked the Cubs’ No. 3 prospect). Listed at 6’5”, 210 lbs, Wiggins is a big guy with an athletic build and clean delivery. His freshman season abruptly ended due to internal brace surgery in May 2025. If Wiggins stays healthy and develops a reliable off-speed pitch, he could be a mid-rotation arm. He limits hard contact and didn’t allow a single home run, though he posted a 15.3% walk rate. At worst, he could end up as a reliever with a nasty fastball/slider combo. His fastball reached 97.4 mph at the MLB Draft Combine and his slider generates a ton of spin. 92. Aiden Robbins, OF, Texas Slot value: $859,900 Here’s an excerpt of our write-up on Robbins from the consensus board: Robbins put up insane numbers in 2025 at Seton Hall before transferring to UT ahead of the 2026 season. While the bat-to-ball numbers have taken a bit of a dip in 2026, Robbins has a good approach at the plate, taking plenty of walks. Where he excels, is doing damage on contact. Robbins routinely launches baseballs north of 110 mph and has EV90 and barrel% numbers north of the 90th percentile in 2026. There's above-average speed and athleticism to boot. Robbins has the legs to be a threat on the basepaths and the range to play all three outfield positions, at least at the onset of his pro career. He's one of the sharpest risers on the college side in 2026, managing a .333/.426/.696 line with 24 home runs (36 XBH), a 13.7 BB%, a 22.9 K% and a 138 wRC+. Robbins was expected to be selected in the first round, but fell to the third round (perhaps due to signing bonus concerns). He has some room to grow and add muscle to his 6’2”, 200 lb frame. Robbins posted one of the biggest jumps in power among college players. In his sophomore year at Seton Hall, he hit six home runs before mashing 24 at Texas as a junior. He’s shown sharp instincts on the basepaths, and is a competent fielder to boot. 120. Shane Sdao, LHP, Texas A&M Slot value: $645,100 Here’s an excerpt of our write-up on Sdao from the consensus board: After impressing as sophomore for Texas A&M in 2024 on a team that went to the CWS championship series, Shane Sdao needed TJ surgery in the fall and missed all of his 2025 draft eligible junior season. He turned down significant money to return to Texas A&M in 2026 and will be eligible again as a 22-year old senior. 2026 marked the first season Sdao operated solely as a starter, and the results were poor. His velocity hasn't fully returned post TJ. His fastball, which previously sat 92-94 mph and sat 97 mph, didn't miss many bats. Sdao shows an affinity for spin, with a nasty sweeper he can throw to left or right handed hitters, and a curveball that sits in the high-70s. There's strength to add in the frame, in addition to a five pitch arsenal, but Sdao is older for the class and managed a 5.35 FIP in 71.2 IP in 2026, striking out 24.5% of hitters and walking 5.9%. Before his 2025 Tommy John surgery, Sdao posted a 2.96 ERA as a Texas A&M sophomore. This past season, he posted a 7.41 ERA across 71.2 innings pitched. His fastball occasionally flirts with 96-97 mph and he has solid command as evidenced by his 6.1% walk rate. The Mets have one of the best farm systems in baseball. Overall, there’s a solid mix of pitchers and position players in the organization, but they decided to pick two high-risk arms on the first day of the draft. Wiggins and Sdao come with injury history and concern about reaching their ceilings post-elbow surgery. Robbins was a lottery ticket, who will immediately break the top ten, if not the top five, in the team's prospect rankings. There’s some concern with his ability to handle breaking balls as he advances through the minors, but he turns heads whenever he makes contact with the ball. What are your thoughts on the Mets' day one performance? Drop them below in the comments! View the full article

The Milwaukee Brewers selected Julian Garcia at pick No. 130 in the 2026 MLB Draft. Garcia is a right-handed pitcher out of St. John Bosco High School. The slot value for the pick is $585,700. Garcia was ranked No. 118 overall on our MLB Draft Consensus Board. Here's what Jamie Cameron, curator of our MLB Draft Consensus Board, said about Garcia: Garcia is a Long Beach State commit playing for nationally ranked St. John Bosco in California. After having TJ surgery a year ago, he's put together a strong spring, playing alongside fellow 2026 draft prospect James Clark. Garcia has an electric one-two punch. It's a fastball up to 97 mph that he's been able to hold velocity on deeper into his starts in 2026. It plays well at the top of the strike zone thanks to 17-19 inches of IVB. It's complimented by a hammer curveball, a 60 offering producing spin rates north of 3,000 rpms that's been a bit a huge whiff inducer for him. Garcia has also shown feel for a changeup with some tumble and fade, hinting at a potentially tough three-pitch mix for hitters to face. His injury history raises some questions, but the arm talent is real, and the college commitment should be easy to navigate if a pro organization feels convinced enough of Garcia's profile." What do you think of the pick? Add your thoughts in the comments! View the full article

With their final pick on the first day of the 2026 MLB Draft, the San Diego Padres got their first power bat. That came in the form of Oklahoma State junior outfielder Alex Conover, who was taken with a compensation pick in the fourth round, the 134th overall selection. The Friars received this pick as a result of the qualifying offer given to right-handed starter Dylan Cease, who signed with the Toronto Blue Jays for seven years and $210 million in free agency. The 134th pick has a $563,900 bonus slot. Another left-handed bat, the 6-foot-4, 202-pound Conover slashed .357/.476/.625 at Oklahoma State with 14 homers, 37 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. All of his tools were given a 50-grade on the 20-80 scouting scale by MLB Pipeline. He made huge strides in cutting his chase rate from 2025 to 2026, going from 26% down to 19%. He rarely swings and misses when the ball is in the zone and does go gap-to-gap. One drawback is he does tend to hit too many groundballs. Conover also has solid speed but played mostly left field at Oklahoma State, though he did see action in center. His arm is rather average, which probably leaves him in left with first base also a possibility. As a minor bonus, he did catch in high school. View the full article

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Will Brick at #131 in the 2026 MLB Draft. Brick is a catcher from Christian Brothers High School in Tennessee. The slot value for the pick is $581,100. Brick was ranked 50th on our MLB Draft Consensus Board. Here’s what our write-up of Brick by DiamondCentric draft expert Jamie Cameron: Brick is another reclass originally part of the 2027 draft class who is currently committed to Mississippi State. Prep catching (and catching in general) is notoriously difficult to prognosticate, but Brick has well-rounded skills and tools that give me a greater level of optimism than most prospects in this demographic. Hitting from the right side of the plate, Brick has a clean swing and put up some of the best bat speed numbers on the 2025 summer showcase circuit. While he hasn't accessed more than average in-game power yet, Brick's swing and frame have the ingredients to get there. This is supplemented by good bat-to-ball skills and a solid approach, a combination of offensive skills that may eventually get Brick to above-average hit and power tools. Defensively, he's a strong prospect. It's a massive arm, with additional skill (sub 1.9 pop times) in controlling the running game. His receiving game (and defense in general) is as praised as his leadership capabilities and other intangibles. Prep catching is not a demographic that inspires confidence, but Brick is one of the few I'd bet on to make an impact as a pro. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs selected Dylan Marionneaux with the 126th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft Saturday afternoon. Marionneaux is a pitcher at Northwestern State University. The right-hander had entered the transfer portal this year and had interest from the University of Miami, though ultimately would transfer to the SEC and the Alabama Tide. The slot value for the 126th pick in the MLB draft is $609.200. Marionneaux stands 6'3" but is listed only at 163lbs. In his most recent season at Northwestern, he struck out 81 hitters over the span of 84 innings pitched, while sporting a 3.51 ERA on route to making the All-Southland first team. According to Baseball America in 2025, Marionneaux lives in the upper-80s and threw mostly fastball-slider: "Though Lane made history with eight innings in a combined no hitter, the performance of the week goes to Northwestern State’s Dylan Marionneaux, who silenced New Orleans with a complete game shutout in which he struck out nine to just one walk and allowed two hits. "Marionneaux, who sits in the high-80s and primarily relies on just a fastball and slider, didn’t allow a base runner after the fifth inning. He has given up just one earned run over his last 21.1 innings." This is is a developmental pitcher with prototypical height who could add velocity through strength training. It's also a good sign that multiple SEC programs, such as Alabama and LSU, as well as Miami, were all sniffing around the pitcher in the transfer portal. View the full article

Not that the San Diego Padres needed additional catching depth, but they went out and drafted another backstop. With the first of two fourth-round selections, the Padres selected George Washington junior catcher Robbie Lavey with the 124th overall pick. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound left-handed hitter had a .339/.462/.526 slash line this season with 20 extra-base hits and 37 RBIs. His slot number is $620,300. Lavey is 20 years old. Lavey does a lot of things very well, but nothing overly well. His best trait is his arm, which has been graded as 55 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He is a line-drive hitter who makes good contact and can drive the ball. Defensively, he might need some work, but is a positive there more than a detriment behind the plate. The Padres have good catchers at every level, led by No. 1 prospect Ethan Salas. View the full article

In the fourth round, the Kansas City Royals selected Dominic Battista, an outfielder from Oswego East High School in Illinois. Selected 119th overall, Battista is committed to the University of Illinois-Chicago. Battista missed some time due to a hamate injury, but he's been widely hailed by scouts for his toolsy and athletic profile. Here's what Prep Baseball said about him back in a write-up last August. Battista will be a project of sorts, as he is currently 18 and won't turn 19 until October. Prep Baseball ranked him the 6th-best player in Illinois and the best outfielder in the state as well. The Royals are now done for the first round, having made all four of their picks. A complete review of Day 1 of the MLB Draft will be posted on Royals Keep later this evening. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins have selected Tommy LaPour with the 107th overall pick in the MLB Draft. Slot value for the pick is $733,100. LaPour, a right-hander out of TCU, will join a Twins organization that lacks elite right-handed pitching prospects. Here's what our draft expert Jamie Cameron has to say about LaPour. Tommy LaPour was a decorated athlete out of high school in Missouri (football, baseball, wrestling). After spending a season at Wichita State, he transferred to TCU ahead of the 2025 season and put together a 4.01 FIP in over 90 innings of work in the Horned Frogs' rotation. LaPour has excellent arm talent, throwing his fastball in the 95-98 mph range, although it's been up to triple digits. It tends to perform poorly, due to its ordinary shape and spotty control and command. There's an above-average two-plane slider and a solid changeup to round out his mix. LaPour was limited to just 17 innings in 2026, missing a ton of time due to elbow soreness. He managed a 6.46 FIP while striking out 21.3% of hitters and walking 12.5%. This is a prospect for whom recent performance and arm talent didn't align. The right pro system and development could see him develop into a starter, with a high-leverage reliever as a fallback option. View the full article