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The Washington Nationals have been one of the most surprising teams in baseball in 2026. After letting go of general manager Mike Rizzo, the Nationals have cleaned house and begun anew under new President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni. They hired Blake Butera as manager, made some key front-office and roster changes, and are now 41-40 as of June 25. Last season, they were 66-96 in Rizzo's last year as head of Nationals baseball operations. Washington has one of the best offenses in the league, which has been key to their surprising success. As of June 25, the Nationals rank 1st in runs scored, 2nd in stolen bases, and 4th in home runs and 4th in runs scored. The hitting has been led primarily by young stars such as outfielder James Wood, shortstop CJ Abrams, corner infielders Curtis Mead and Luis Garcia Jr., and outfielder Daylen Lile. All five players are 26 and under. Unfortunately, the pitching hasn't been great this year, with the bullpen being a particular area of struggle for the Nationals. According to Fangraphs, the Nationals rank last in pitching fWAR with a 0.5 mark. They rank 26th in ERA (4.70), 28th in xERA (4.96), and 29th in FIP (4.81). They have particularly struggled with the long ball as a staff, as their 13.3% HR/FB ranks 29th, better than only the Chicago Cubs (14.8%). The bullpen metrics alone are arguably even worse. The Nationals' bullpen ranks 27th in ERA (4.90), 29th in xERA (4.93), and 28th in FIP (4.93). In terms of bullpen fWAR, Washington ranks last in baseball with a -2.1 mark. They are slightly worse than the Royals, who rank 29th in reliever fWAR at -1.6. While the Royals do not have a ton of bullpen assets to offer, they do have one strong reliever who could make sense for the Nationals' bullpen: John Schreiber. After a slow start, Schreiber has put up one of his best seasons yet as a Kansas City reliever. In 34 games and 31.2 IP, he has a 2.56 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. The 32-year-old veteran hasn't been a strikeout machine by any means (19.2% K%), but he floods the strike zone, induces weak contact, and generates a lot of groundballs, as evidenced by his Statcast percentiles this season via TJ Stats. Now, the Nationals may not be buyers at the Trade Deadline. Toboni is in year one, and he's trying to rebuild the organization, which takes some time. While Washington is over .500, they are in a tough division, as they not only sit in second-to-last place in the NL East, but they only have 4.4% odds to make the postseason, according to Fangraphs. For context, the Royals, who are now 34-48 after today's 13-2 loss to the Rays, have 5.2% odds. Still, Washington has had some positive momentum, and it may be a good time to buy to build fan buy-in, especially after so many years of mediocrity since they last won the World Series in 2019. Without much great bullpen depth, the Nationals could acquire Schreiber to boost their reliever production and make a run for an NL Wild Card spot. Furthermore, the Royals could take advantage of the Nationals' reliever needs and perhaps get some much-needed prospect capital in return. Schreiber Has Been Excellent Since May 1 Schreiber has posted strong numbers this year, with an ERA under three. That's far better than what other key relievers have produced this year for Kansas City, such as Lucas Erceg (5.16) and Matt Strahm (6.20). However, it seems like Schreiber has tapped another level as a reliever since May 1. Since May 1, the former 15th-round pick has been the Royals' best reliever with a 1.35 ERA, 8.6 K/9, and 2.3 BB/9. Schreiber and newcomer Alex Lange have been the top Royals arms out of the bullpen over this nearly two-month sample. Lord, Beeter, and Orlando Ribalta are the only relievers with 10 or more appearances since May 1 with ERA marks under four. Mitchell Parker, Paxton Schultz, and Gus Varland all have 10 or more appearances over that same time frame, but they sport ERAs over 6. That is not effective, even for an offensive-first team. The Nationals wouldn't need Schreiber to come in and be their closer. It seems like Beeter can handle that situation just fine (and his 2.69 xERA and 2.58 FIP hint that better days are ahead). That said, Schreiber could be an effective 7th or 8th-inning setup man that could lock down in high-leverage situations. That gives the Nationals bullpen more weapons in the transition to Beeter in the ninth. Who Could the Royals Get From the Nationals? Schreiber is not going to command a great prospect package from Washington. After all, he's a reliever, and he's a free agent next year who likely wouldn't return to D.C. While I don't think Schreiber would command a top prospect, he could help the Royals net a "turnaround" project or two in return. Two names that could be included in a Schreiber deal are outfielder Robert Hassell III and pitcher Andry Lara. Both are post-hype prospects who have failed to do much in the Majors and are currently languishing in Triple-A. Hassell is the more high-profile of the two. He was one of the prized prospects in the Juan Soto trade with the Padres, but he hasn't hit enough to be a relevant player at the Major League level. In 70 games and 206 plate appearances last season, Hassell hit .223 with a 58 wRC+. He was plagued by a 30.1% K% and 3.9% BB% with the Nationals a year ago. In Triple-A this year, he's hitting .224 with a 67 wRC+ in 228 plate appearances. Thus, he's not due for a call-up anytime soon, especially with a 26.3% K%. However, he has shown some intriguing skills in his Statcast profile in Triple-A this season. That makes one wonder if he could thrive in a new change of scenery. Hassell barrels the ball at a decent rate (6.6%), and the average EV and LA Sweet-Spot% ranked in the 60th percentile or above. At 24 years old, he's too young to give up on, but he seems like a superfluous asset for the Nationals right now. Conversely, the Royals could give Hassell a chance in CF as soon as this year, especially with Kyle Isbel out for an extended period of time. The same story is true for Lara on the pitching end. Lara was ranked as the 27th-best prospect in the Nationals system in 2024, according to Fangraphs. He's primarily been utilized as a starter for Triple-A Rochester, with 13 starts (14 appearances) and 64.1 IP. The sample hasn't been great, as he has a 5.60 ERA, but his 5.02 FIP and 4.97 xFIP are more encouraging marks. He also demonstrated solid grades on the splitter and sinker, and they seem to generate soft contact well, based on xwOBACON. Lara made his MLB debut with the Nationals last year and posted an 8.79 ERA in nine outings and 14.1 IP. While his 5.44 FIP was better, he struggled with command, as evidenced by his 12.8% K% and 1.25 K/BB ratio. Thus, he doesn't seem to fit in either the Nationals' rotation or bullpen at this time. Still, he seems like a pitcher who could benefit from a change of scenery and a change in pitch mix. The Royals have successfully tweaked or added pitches to struggling pitchers' repertoires, with varying degrees of success. Lara seems like another candidate. Maybe throw the sinker and splitter more and four-seamer less? Add a changeup or sweeper into the mix? With those changes, it's easy to see Lara see a spike in positive production as a member of the Royals. Would Schreiber be enough for Hassell and Lara? That's hard to tell, but it's a conversation worth having between Toboni and Royals President of Baseball Operations JJ Picollo. View the full article

When Jacob Misiorowski takes the mound Friday night to face the Cubs at Uecker Field in Milwaukee, he'll do so on six days' rest. In fact, it will be the second time in a row that he pitches with an extra day—or what those of us born before 2000 would call an extra extra day, because the fifth day of rest between starts has only become as normal as the first four within the last few years. Misiorowski will be making his 31st regular-season appearance and 30th start since debuting last June, but he's only pitched on the traditional four days' rest four times. The Brewers know what they have in The Miz. They also know what dangers he faces. Though few pitchers in the game are better at generating power with their lower half, Misiorowski's velocity and extension—no pitcher in baseball history has had as lethal a combination of the two—mean that his body is undergoing extraordinary stresses when he pitches. So far, he hasn't broken. The team knows they can't take for granted that their luck or his ligaments will hold, though. Thus, they'll continue to treat him cautiously. His efficiency has allowed him to work deep into games, including completing one, but the team hasn't permitted him to throw more than 101 pitches in any start this year. They're also pouncing on every opportunity to stretch out the days between starts for him, as they try to avoid letting his workload skyrocket. In 2024, he pitched 97 1/3 competitive innings, divided between the top two levels of the minors. Last year, counting his playoff outings, he pitched 141 1/3 frames. This season, he's already at 93, and the team fully intends to play not just 162 games, but 175 or so. If he stays on this pace, he could throw 200 innings in 2026, including the postseason. Whatever you might have heard in the past, that's fine. The so-called Verducci Effect is bunk; the columnist for whom it's named did shoddy research and glibly published a piece that had needless staying power because of his ubiquity in the national baseball media at the time. It's fine and normal for Misiorowski to add 50-plus innings to his workload over a full season, even though he did something similar from 2024 to last year. However, while increasing workload doesn't act as a multiplier, per se, the more one pitches, the greater the risk of injury. The harder one throws, the greater the risk of injury. Misiorowski has been impressively available and healthy over the last 15 months, but no one is blind to the risk he faces. Thus, the team will take every viable step to mitigate that risk. Right now, what that looks like is akin to making Misiorowski a collegiate ace. Traditionally, in NCAA baseball, a team sends their top starter to the mound just once a week, and they line them up for Friday nights. It's a handy thing for scouts who want to see pro prospects. It also makes for predictably good viewing for local fans. Most of all, though, putting players on that schedule has helped lure coaches away from an even more ingrained tradition that prevailed before this one: abusing elite arms and burning through them in their early 20s. Misiorowski started on a Friday night two weeks ago against the Phillies. Last week, he got the nod again in the northwest suburbs of Atlanta. For the third week in a row, he'll be the Brewers' Friday Night Starter, this time against the Cubs. It raises the hype and the mania of what was already sure to be an electric ballpark, as the Crew welcome a streaking but ragged Chicago team to town and look to knock them out of the division race for good. He won't stay on the Friday Nights Only schedule next week, but he could bop back onto it soon thereafter. Friday marks the first of 18 games in 17 days, leading into the All-Star break. Having Misiorowski start the opener of such a rough spot in the schedule is a great way to set the tone, but he won't be able to wait until next Friday for his next appearance. That will probably come, instead, in the final contest of this six-game homestand, against the Reds next Thursday. After that, he might start on four days' rest for once, during the Crew's doubleheader in St. Louis—but it's more likely that his final start before the All-Star break will come July 8, to close out that series against the Brewers' toughest challengers for this year's NL Central crown. Presumably, Misiorowski will be asked to start the All-Star Game, but that will just be a brief engagement. Assuming he stays fully healthy between now and then, we could see him land back on the Friday Night Starter schedule beginning July 17, when the Brewers begin their official second half against Miami. They have off days on July 23 and July 30, so if the team elects to go with some form of a six-man rotation (a term Pat Murphy assiduously avoids, but which basically applies to the way they're running the staff right now), Misiorowski could start on July 17, July 24 and July 31, pitching twice at home in three straight weeks of Friday nights. Another run of 17 days between open dates for Milwaukee will force Misiorowski off a once-a-week schedule for most of August. However, it's easy to see how he might get back onto that plan in September. I can get him to the end of the season with 30 total starts, without ever having him truly miss a turn in the rotation. If the Brewers can do that, they almost certainly will. The most remarkable thing about this, though, is not Misiorowski himself. For once, he's not the story, although the story is about him. Rather, this one is about what the Brewers have afforded themselves. In addition to the best pitcher in baseball, they have a legitimate Cy Young Award contender in any other year, in Kyle Harrison; the dominant-when-healthy veteran Brandon Woodruff; and the best depth corps of any team in the league, featuring Brandon Sproat, Shane Drohan, Robert Gasser, Chad Patrick, and the currently injured Coleman Crow and Logan Henderson. They also boast the best farm system in baseball, from which could come more direct help, or from which they could deal to add one more starter before the trade deadline. Almost no other team in the league could afford to slowplay an ace like this. Milwaukee has so many versatile and valuable arms that they can survive five games in six days without Misiorowski getting involved. As they always seem to do, they've also created a buffer for themselves. A slight slip in the standings need not put a bead of sweat on their brows; they have control of the division. The combination of excellent depth and a lack of real urgency to win every last regular-season game in the second half should make taking it easy with Misiorowski relatively easy. The marketing department has to love this. What's easier than making money on a superstar who appears on a predictable schedule? The house is full as often as not during the summers in Milwaukee, but the team can make a real killing by promoting Misiorowski starts that come like clockwork, right alongside the weekend vibes. The front office and the coaching staff wouldn't do it for that reason, though. Misiorowski is being treated like a college arm right now because it's the best way to maximize the chances that he still has this much crackling heat in his arm when the NLCS begins in mid-October. View the full article

Defense can be one of the most difficult aspects of baseball to evaluate. While fans can easily identify a diving catch or a costly error, modern metrics attempt to capture the countless subtle plays that impact run prevention over the course of a season. The first installment of the 2026 SABR Defensive Index (SDI) rankings has been released, providing an early look at how Minnesota Twins players stack up defensively against the rest of the American League. The SDI serves as a key component in determining Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners and combines multiple defensive metrics, including Statcast data and traditional play-by-play analysis. While it's still early in the season, the rankings reveal several surprises for Minnesota—both positive and negative. All rankings were through games played on June 7, 2026. Bradley Leads the Pitching Staff Grading pitching defense is still challenging, and this year's rankings largely reflect that reality. Among Minnesota pitchers, Taj Bradley leads the way with a 0.6 SDI, ranking 16th among American League pitchers. Bailey Ober sits at an even 0.0, while Connor Prielipp checks in at -0.5. Joe Ryan's ranking stands out the most. His -0.7 SDI places him near the bottom of qualified AL pitchers, with only nine qualified hurlers posting a lower mark. For the entire 2025 season, he had a -1.9 SDI. While pitcher defense generally carries less value than other positions, it remains an area where Ryan has struggled throughout his career. Jeffers Showing Improvement Behind the Plate One of the more encouraging developments comes at catcher. Ryan Jeffers currently owns a 0.0 SDI, ranking eighth among American League catchers. That might not sound impressive on the surface, but it's a significant improvement from last season when he posted a -6.2 SDI. In 2025, only Logan O'Hoppe graded worse among qualified AL catchers. Victor Caratini sits slightly below average at -0.4 SDI, but he has seen more regular action since Jeffers went on the IL and his numbers have improved. Jeffers' improvement represents a notable step forward for a player whose offensive production has often overshadowed concerns about his defense. Can Clemens Continue Minnesota's Gold Glove Tradition? For years, the Twins have received strong defensive production at first base. Carlos Santana and Ty France each earned Gold Glove recognition during their time in Minnesota, and Kody Clemens appears determined to keep the Twins in the Gold Glove conversation. Clemens owns a 1.8 SDI, ranking sixth among American League first basemen. However, he is only 0.6 out of ranking among the top three. His defensive performance has quietly become one of the team's strengths. With Royce Lewis beginning to see more action at first base, it will be interesting to see whether he can develop into a capable defender there as the season progresses. Middle Infield Remains a Concern If there is one area where these rankings raise red flags, it's the middle infield. Luke Keaschall's -5.0 SDI ranks last among qualified AL second basemen. The sophomore’s bat has helped him remain in the lineup, but manager Derek Shelton has already acknowledged the defensive challenges. Shelton has reportedly discussed late-game defensive substitutions with Keaschall, recognizing that run prevention can become critical in close contests. Things look even rougher at shortstop. Brooks Lee's -5.9 SDI ranks last among qualified American League shortstops. While defensive metrics can fluctuate throughout a season, the struggles help explain why Minnesota has increasingly shifted Lee to third base. His offensive versatility remains valuable, but the organization appears to be searching for a more sustainable long-term defensive alignment. Interestingly, no Twins third baseman had accumulated enough innings to qualify for the rankings. Lewis had been demoted and moved off the hot corner. Lee will start showing up on the SDI ranking later this season. Mixed Results in the Outfield Minnesota's outfield rankings offer a blend of surprises. Trevor Larnach owns a -0.4 SDI in left field, with only three qualified AL left fielders ranking lower. While Larnach's offensive contributions remain valuable, defense continues to be an area where he grades below average. In center field, Byron Buxton sits at -0.1 SDI, tied for eighth among American League center fielders. While those numbers don't jump off the page, they represent improvement from last season's -4.6 SDI. Some of Buxton's decline in defensive metrics can be attributed to diminished arm strength. Opposing runners have been more willing to take extra bases against him than they were during his Gold Glove peak years, impacting his overall value despite still covering plenty of ground. The biggest surprise may come in right field. Austin Martin's 2.9 SDI ranks third among AL right fielders, trailing only Wilyer Abreu and Cam Smith. Martin's athleticism has long been evident, but his defensive impact has become one of the more underrated aspects of his game. While much of the focus remains on whether he'll hit enough to secure a long-term role, his glove is making a compelling case. A Snapshot, Not a Final Verdict As always, defensive metrics should be viewed as one piece of a much larger puzzle. Small samples, positioning, team strategies, and statistical variance can all influence these rankings. Still, the first SDI update highlights several clear trends. Minnesota continues to receive strong defense at first base, Martin is emerging as a legitimate defensive asset, and Jeffers appears to be making strides behind the plate. On the other hand, the middle infield remains a concern, with both Keaschall and Lee ranking at the bottom of their respective positions. With the Twins fighting to remain in the American League playoff race, every run saved could prove just as important as every run scored. What surprises you most about these rankings? Are you buying Martin as one of the AL's best defensive right fielders, and how concerned are you about the defensive struggles of Keaschall and Lee? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Transactions: RHP Craig Yoho optioned to AAA Nashville from MLB Brewers RHP Peter Strzelecki signed to minor league contract and assigned to AAA Nashville INF/OF Jett Williams placed on AAA Nashville’s temporarily inactive list RHP Miguel Andrade placed on DSL Brewers Gold’s 7-day injured list Game Action: Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Nashville 3, Gwinnett (Braves) 0 Box Score Via the Sounds’ website, game details and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Sounds Earn Fourth Shutout of Season in Win Over Gwinnett RHP Lyon Richardson’s longest outing since 2024 led the staff’s impressive 2-hit shutout to claim a 2-1 lead in this week’s home series. As detailed in Nishant Brahme’s linked game report which includes three highlight videos, the Sounds used the long ball (3B Brock Wilken’s 388-foot solo homer), then small ball (OF Tyler Black’s full count walk earned via challenge, stolen base, scored on sac fly) to grab a 2-0 lead by the 4th inning. A massive “Job well done” to RHPs Junior Fernandez (2 IP, 1 K) and Peter Strzelecki (welcome back! – 1 IP, 2 Ks) for facing the minimum number of batters over the final 3 frames. DH Jeferson Quero (2-for-3, sac fly, 2 RBIs) and C Ramon Rodriguez (2-for-3) notched 4 of the team’s 7 hits and the Sounds were also stout defensively (3 double plays turned). Sounds’ Extras: Time will tell whether the 26-year-old Richardson (4 IP, 0 R, 2 H – both singles, 1 BB, 3 Ks) will be stretched out further, but it would solve a starting pitcher depth challenge that skipper Rick Sweet has been managing for at least three weeks. Three fifth inning walks issued by RHP Reiss Knehr (2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 4 BB, 1 K) thankfully produced zero runs and Nashville’s staff did not allow any hits after the 3rd inning. After pitching 16 games for the Sounds from March-May, Strzelecki’s contract was selected by the Brewers, but he didn’t see game time. He then tried his luck with the Yankees’ AAA team for six games before opting out and returning to Nashville. Friday’s outlook: 24-year-old RHP Tyson Hardin is ready for his 8th AAA start (2.25 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 9.2 K/9 in 40 IP), with Nashville looking to claim a 3-1 series lead. Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes Rain Out: Biloxi at Montgomery Via the Shuckers’ website, rain out details: Shuckers, Biscuits Postponed Due to Rain at DABOS Park Biloxi leads the series two games to zero and the teams will hope to be able to play two games on Friday. Friday’s outlook: RHPs Jaron DeBerry and Manuel Rodriguez are scheduled to start the doubleheader, with Biloxi aiming for a sweep to clinch this week’s road series. Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Wisconsin 9, Cedar Rapids (Twins) 1 Box Score Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Eight-Run Second Inning is Enough for Wisconsin As usual for home games (but let’s not take it for granted), enjoy the video highlights compiled by Wisconsin’s terrific media team: And be sure not to miss the 16-minute Mehring-Timm post-game podcast, featuring RHP Ethan Dorchies, OF Josiah Ragsdale and Manager Nick Stanley. As you’ve read, seen and heard from the above links, SS Luis Pena (1-for-3, double, HBP, 2 RBIs) returned from a 16-day absence for a sore hamstring and all is right in Timber Rattler Land. Dorchies (7 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) worked around a 1st inning double, then a walk and an error in the 2nd frame to deliver his best start of 2026, likely comforted by the Udder Tuggers’ 8-run, 12-batter second inning. Every starting position player reached base via hit or walk, with Ragsdale (2-for-5, double, 2 RBIs), OF Braylon Payne (2-for-5), C David Garcia (2-for-3, HBP) and OF Tayden Hall (1-for-3, double, HBP, 2 RBIs) having particularly productive evenings. Timber Rattlers’ Extras: RHP Quinton Low continued his recent run of solid form with two scoreless innings of relief: 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks. He’s unscored upon over his last 7 innings with 12 Ks. Friday’s outlook: LHP Wande Torres gets the call as Wisconsin seeks to clinch a home series victory. Wilson Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Fredericksburg (Nationals) 13, Wilson 3 Box Score Via the Warbirds’ website, game details: Fredericksburg Charges Past Wilson After retiring 5 of 7 batters to open the game, starting RHP Enniel Cortez allowed three consecutive 2-out RBI hits in the 2nd inning, then the first four batters of the 3rd inning reached via hit or walk to blow open the game. A strike ‘em out, thrown ‘em out double play to end that frame kept the contest at 6-0. OF Handelfry Encarnacion (2-for-2, double, walk, sac fly, RBI) had opened the game with a single, but was erased via a ground ball double play and the Warbirds did not collect their 2nd hit until the 5th inning, while already trailing 11-0 by that point. RHP Tyler Renz’s relief effort started poorly via three straight walks in a 5-run fourth inning, but he ultimately gave the team 3 innings of work to ease the bullpen strain (7 R, 6 ER, 6 H, 5 BB, 3 WP, 3 Ks). On the more positive side, RHP Ismael Yanez pitched two hitless, scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts, but 4 walks blemished his numbers (43 pitches, 20 strikes). SS Brady Ebel also had a decent stat line: 1-for-3, double, walk, RBI. Warbirds’ Extras: Other lowlights Thursday evening included an 0-for-10 effort with runners in scoring position, as well as 3B Juan Ortuno’s 10th error of the 2026 campaign. 1B Tyler Rodriguez’s on-base streak is now 19 games long after he drew a walk. Hot 18-year-old prospect OF Alexander Frias had an 0-for-4 game, but with no strikeouts. Friday’s outlook: LHP Andrew Healy gets the start, with Wilson needing a victory to even the series at two games apiece. Final: ACL Brewers 7, ACL Cubs 5 Box Score Starting RHP Chase Bentley (4 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 10 Ks) struck out 10 Cubs and 1B Roderick Flores (1-for-2, HR, 2 walks, 2 RBIs) delivered a 2-run homer in the 5th inning to take a 3-2 lead in this competitive contest in 106-degree heat. Tied 3-3 entering the bottom of the 6th inning, 2B CJ Hughes (1-for-3, HR, walk, 2 RBIs) restored the Zona Crew’s lead with a 2-run, 107mph homer, with 3B Yu-Lin Liao (1-for-3, HR, walk, 2 RBIs) following with another 2-run homer three batters later to grab a 7-3 advantage. The Cubs narrowed the gap to 7-5 with 1-on, 1-out single in the 7th inning, but RHP Luke Roupe (3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks) induced a ground ball double play to preserve the lead. One inning later, there were 2-on, 1-out, when he induced another GIDP to get out of that mini-jam, closing out the 3-inning save one inning later. This game marked the return of OF Kenny Fenelon (2-for-5, SB) after a nine-day absence, restoring necessary position player depth. On-base machine SS Juan Martinez was solid yet again: 1-for-2, double, 2 walks, SB; 1.093 OPS. RHP Argenis Aparicio (1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K) collected the win in middle relief. Both teams notched three home runs and struggled with runners in scoring position (combined 2-for-13), but the Brewers’ strong defense (3 double plays, 0 errors) keyed their victory (vs. 0 DPs and 2 errors for the Cubs). Final: DSL Brewers Blue 9, DSL Padres Gold 8 Box Score The Blue squad trailed 4-0 early and 7-4 late but stormed back with a 5-run eighth inning to grab the lead and then hold on in a dramatic island affair that included a 73-minute rain delay in the 4th inning. They improved their record to 13-5. After a 1-out hit-by-pitch and two walks, DH/INF Jose Rodriguez (3-for-5, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs), C Sebastian Franeites (1-for-4, triple, walk, 2 RBIs; .989 OPS) and 3B Leanders Matos (1-for-3, 2 walks, RBI, 2 SBs; .999 OPS) delivered consecutive RBI hits to take a 9-7 advantage before the Padres sent their second baseman to the mound to stop the bleeding. RHP Jean (JC) Rodriguez had entered in relief in the top of the 8th inning with the Blue Men trailing 7-4, 2-on and nobody out, bearing down to strand the two baserunners (K, K, ground out). After the offensive outburst to take the lead, JC then conceded a single and an RBI triple to commence the 9th inning, putting the potential game-tying runner 90 feet from home plate with nobody out. JC amazingly escaped again though, getting a ground out, fly out and ground out to strand the runner and preserve the one-run victory. Every Brewers’ Blue batter reached base via hit or walk in the contest, including solid days by 1B Angel Gonzalez (1-for-2, 3 walks, RBI, SB), OF Frandy Lafond (2-for-5, RBI; 1.017 OPS) and SS Diego Frontado (1-for-4, double, walk; 1.053 OPS). Nobody distinguished themselves on the mound, though 17-year-old RHP Steven Duran handled the largest share of the work (4 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 2 Ks). RHP Justin Lugo (3.38 ERA) is usually much sharper than this: 2 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 4 WP, 4 Ks. We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Friday, a whopping eight minor league games are scheduled for Brewers’ affiliates, starting with the DSL clubs at 10:00am CST and ending with ACL Brewers at 8:00pm CST. The Milwaukee Brewers also commence their home series against the Cubs at 6:45pm CST. 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

Welcome to Shape of the Blue Jays, my column where I dig into Statcast numbers to analyze recent pitch shape and swing shape trends for Toronto Blue Jays players and discuss how they have impacted their performance. Click here to read the last edition. Quick Hits: ABS Mishaps A lot of things went wrong in the Houston series, and one of them is flying under the radar due to the broader fundamental mistakes that cost the Jays in the rubber match: They got absolutely schooled by the Astros when it came to ABS challenges. Houston was a perfect 5-for-5 through 4 innings of Monday's opener, including 3-for-3 in the first inning. The Blue Jays went 0-for-2 and were out of challenges in the bottom of the 2nd. It's true that home plate umpire Bill Miller had a brutal start to the game, but the Blue Jays learned that just because the umpire isn't at his best doesn't mean it's okay to start blindly challenging every close pitch. If the top of the order is going to be lifeless and the margins are going to be thin, wasting challenges is something that will haunt them eventually. On Tuesday, the Jays were more careful, not even attempting a challenge through 7 innings. With the go-ahead run on base in a tie game in the top of the 8th, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. got a 1-0 slider from old friend Nate Pearson that was easily off the outside corner of the plate but called a strike anyway. Guerrero didn't challenge. The next batter, Jesus Sanchez, unsuccessfully challenged an obvious strike on an 0-1 fastball before striking out swinging on the very next pitch. In the finale, George Springer challenged a called third strike. It was a changeup that was in the zone by more than 3" according to Baseball Savant. Alejandro Kirk successfully overturned a ball call in the top half of the next inning at catcher, but he would lose one on a close call while hitting just a half-inning after that. Blue Jays hitters were victimized by multiple bad calls late in the game, but were unable to do anything about it thanks to their earlier mistakes, and it was an extremely fitting end to a disappointing series that the Astros won Wednesday's game on an overturned strike 3 call. Shane Bieber Bieber showcased passable stuff in his much-anticipated return to the mound. His four-seamer continued to sit in the low-90s with 19" of iVB and 11" of run compared to 18"/10" last year. He was able to mix in plenty of cutters, while the kick change that he revamped during his rehab process in 2025 got 4 whiffs on 8 swings. Unfortunately, none of that matters without good location, which is the primary reason he gave up 5 barrels, 10 hard hits (17 BBE), and 3 consecutive home runs to the Astros. He was never able to elevate the fastball, missing middle-down most of the time, while his slider was either hung or bounced with no real in-between. Only 1 of the 3 homers came on a true meatball, that being the fastball that Taylor Trammell sent into the 500 level, which perfectly illustrated why simply avoiding the heart of the plate isn't going to cut it when you don't throw hard. Command and execution have to be top-notch for a guy like Bieber. I'd be more concerned if his fastball was sitting in the high-80s, but he's going to have to do a better job of hitting his spots in his next start. Shane Bieber fastball (left) and slider (right) location, June 23 vs HOU (Statcast) Alejandro Kirk It's still very early on in the season for Kirk, which is good news as he's slashing just .222/.267/.259 since his return from the IL. His swing-and-miss and strikeout rates are slightly up compared to last year, but stop me if you've heard this before about some of his teammates: We're still waiting on the chase (+9.2% vs 2025) and batted ball quality (xwOBACON down 122 points vs 2025) to return to career norms. Interestingly, this is the most pull-oriented we've seen Kirk in his career, something he isn't doing when he's at his best. His current sample of batted balls is small enough to even out naturally in the near future, but the inflated pull rates are nonetheless backed up by his bat tracking stats. Year Bat Speed Bat Speed 90 Swing Length Swing Tilt Attack Angle Attack Direction Contact Point vs Center of Mass 2025 72.5 77.2 7.2' 24° 8° 5° oppo 30.1" 2026 70.6 74.8 7.3' 22° 7° 1° oppo 31.2" His groundballs and popups are up, a classic indicator of a guy still looking to find his timing. Brandon Valenzuela getting off to a hot start theoretically affords the Jays the ability to take things slowly with Kirk, although I'm not sure this is the sort of thing that will get better if he only plays 3-4 times per week. Trey Yesavage On Wednesday against the Astros, Yesavage threw the highest percentage of sliders (43%) we've ever seen from him in a big-league start, excluding game 5 of the World Series. His previous season-high was his last start in Boston (32%), and before that, it was two starts earlier against the Orioles (28%). This was a new culmination of a pattern that's been going on for a while now: A decreased feel for the splitter, which was used a season-low 20% of the time last night. We've also seen something like this with Kevin Gausman at times, which goes to show how important "feel" is for a pitch like the splitter. The difference last night was a loss of command on the four-seamer as well (34% zone, 45% strike), no doubt a factor behind the 5 walks he issued. Yesavage's stuff scores on the fastball have been down for about a month now, but he continues to induce batted balls at poor angles better than most pitchers in the league. Once again, my level of concern about him at this point is directly tied to how often he's in the zone, something that's more of a start-to-start thing. Regardless, as long as he has reduced confidence in the splitter, he'll still be searching for the pure dominance he has shown before. All stats entering June 25, 2026. View the full article

Watching him play on a daily basis, I admittedly have a bias, but it's hard to deny that Otto Lopez is having one of the most fascinating seasons of any MLB player in 2026. The Miami Marlins shortstop is on pace for 6.8 fWAR, roughly tripled his total from 2025. Much of that newfound value comes from simply compiling hits—Lopez's batting average has surged 94 points year-over-year. His .340 mark paces all qualified major leaguers entering Friday. Regression is inevitably coming for Lopez given how often he chases balls outside the strike zone and puts them on the ground. Can he overcome that to hold on and win the fourth National League batting title in Marlins history? With the Marlins having completed exactly half of their regular season schedule, I was curious to look back at how often the midpoint league leaders in batting average finish on top. The table below refers to the league leaderboards on this date throughout the past half-decade in both the AL and NL. More often than not, the midpoint leader has gotten knocked off their perch due to a dip in performance. League's Top Qualified Batting Average Entering June 26 Year League Player Won Batting Title? 2025 AL Aaron Judge Yes 2025 NL Will Smith No 2024 AL Bobby Witt Jr. Yes 2024 NL Shohei Ohtani No 2023 AL Bo Bichette No 2023 NL Luis Arraez Yes 2022 AL Luis Arraez Yes 2022 NL Paul Goldschmidt No 2021 AL Michael Brantley No 2021 NL Nick Castellanos No The only NL qualifier within 15 points of Lopez is Jung Hoo Lee of the San Francisco Giants (.332 BA). Although Lee excelled at hit collecting during his time in the Korea Baseball Organization, this is a massive departure from what he has previously done in MLB (career high of .266). During a typical Marlins season, Lopez's individual pursuit would already be top of mind for most fans due to the team's irrelevance in the postseason race. But for now, things are going well enough for the 42-39 Fish to keep the focus on winning as many games as possible. View the full article

In every sense of the word, right-handed reliever Justin Slaten has been a major success story as a Rule 5 selection. However, as the Boston Red Sox stare down the barrel of being a deadline seller, shopping him makes the most sense for the organization. His 6.48 season ERA is incredibly misleading, as he's 15-for-19 in scoreless appearances. In his four outings allowing runs, he's allowed multiple, and twice it's been four. But despite the 6.14 ERA, he's got a 3.90 xERA and 3.31 xFIP across 16.2 innings. His strikeout rate is also at a career-best 26.3 percent, so there's a lot to be encouraged about despite the alarmingly high earned run average. Having already survived his first season on the big-league roster, Slaten is no longer option-ineligible. Additionally, he's got all three of his options at his disposal to go with three more years of team control beyond 2026. So why does trading him make sense for the Red Sox? It's hard to gauge how impactful his career has been so far. His rookie season is his only one of more than 35 innings, but the Red Sox missed the postseason entirely. Last year, Slaten had good under-the-hood metrics, but his strikeouts were way down, and injuries limited him to just 36 appearances and 34 innings. This year, injuries have him at just 16.2 innings. His strikeouts are way up, but the sample size is still so small. Moreover, the Red Sox are closer to the worst record in the sport than postseason contention. So, while he's overall performed well, with a misleading ERA, the team is again hardly reaping the benefits of it. At the trade deadline, every team is hungry to bolster its bullpen. Even the teams with obvious strengths in the late innings could use another warm body. If for nothing else, to cover against injury. The Red Sox, despite all their faults as a team, have three high-leverage relievers teams have already begun calling about. Four, if you want to count the recent stretch of veteran right-hander Tyron Guerrero. And whether this deadline signifies a full-scale teardown or not, the organization should be entertaining all means of recouping minor league assets, especially on the position-player side. It feels like a formality that bullpen ace Aroldis Chapman will be traded, but they're listening on everyone and should have a large market on all three. But Slaten, even above Garrett Whitlock, makes sense for the Red Sox to trade. Justin Slaten's Injuries Are Becoming A Pain Point Injuries are out of everyone's control in most cases, but some guys find themselves on the shelf more than others. Slaten, even in 2024, spent time on the injured list. Because of this, the Red Sox are almost just as likely to have to work around his unavailability than his production on the field. His medical records are easily accessible to any acquiring team, but he's still someone with serious arm talent. That said, for the Red Sox, they don't need to stay patient with him in hopes that he's healthy and productive in 2027 or beyond. It's also important to remember that diddle relievers grow on trees. While a Chapman trade would signal a likely promotion down the stretch for Slaten, one he received at the end of 2024 as well, he's largely used as a hybrid between middle- and high-leverage relief. While incredibly talented, there's not a whole lot about his arsenal that screams eventual breakout, All-Star-caliber reliever. His sweeper is elite, holding opponents to a .167 average and 50% whiff rate in 2026, but his cutter gets hit hard. His four-seam is underperforming expected data, but serious damage is done against it when it's hit. Part of why there's a lot of damage done against Slaten when he's off is because hitters have no issues pulling the ball in the air against him. The past two years, he's had Pull-Air rates of 11.6 and 13.7 percent. This year, it's up to 23.8 percent. Sure, it's quite possibly a one-off issue, but it's dramatically hindering his ability to avoid meltdowns when he doesn't have his best stuff. Slaten's Remaining Team Control Can Be Exploited By Red Sox While Chapman -- despite being a rental with a pending option -- is going to fetch the best return for the Red Sox this summer, Slaten having three added years of control makes him an enticing trade chip. He's not in the echelon of the Mason Millers, the Jhoan Durans, or even the Garrett Whitlocks of the world. What he is, however, is a relatively high-floor arm with high leverage experience. Couple that with team control through the 2029 season, and you have a reliever that'll certainly have intrigue surrounding him this summer. The silver lining of his bad ERA is the under-the-hood metrics. A 21.1% home runs per fly ball rate is simply unsustainable. As proof of concept, only 19 times has a reliever exceeded that threshold across 40-plus innings since 2002. That's out of 4,119 individual seasons meeting that minimum inning requirement. Likewise, his strikeouts are well above average this season, though he's not a qualified arm yet. He also is 83rd percentile in fastball velocity and extension, meaning he's already got a quality fastball that gets on the hitter a bit quicker than what the radar gun reads. There's doubt the Red Sox could get a top-100 prospect for Slaten, but they could likely get at least one (and probably two) organizational top-10. Given the volatility of relief pitching, plus the current state of the team, making that kind of trade would be a decent piece of business. View the full article

TRANSACTIONS Wichita placed OF Caleb Roberts on the 7-Day Injured List. Fort Myers placed UT Bryan Acuna on the 7-Day Injured List. SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul, Louisville Box Score Elvis Presley once longed for the rain in Kentucky. The Saints and Bats likely would have preferred the rain not arrive until after their Thursday night game instead of before. Instead of playing Thursday, the teams will attempt to complete a doubleheader on Friday. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 0, Midland 6 Box Score On Thursday, the Wind Surge found some tough times in Tall City. Their offense managed to be shutout on just three hits. Andrew Cossetti and Maddux Houghton each had a single. Marek Houston knocked his first Double-A double. Khadim Diaw was 0-for-2, but he walked twice in the game. The Surge went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left six stranded. Sam Armstrong has been really good on the mound in June. He wasn’t as dominant on Thursday. He gave up two runs on two hits (including two home runs) over three innings. He struck out just one batter. But what he did was keep his team in the game by limiting the damage. Paulshawn Pasqualotto has had a really nice rebound season. In this game, he gave up three hits over two scoreless innings. He struck out two batters. Ruddy Gomez gave up one run on three hits in his inning. Jacob Webb gave up two runs on two hits in the seventh inning. Zach Vennaro gave up one run on two walks in the eighth inning. A little more on Khadim Diaw and his start in Wichita. In seven games played, he is 8-for-23, just over a hit a game, and giving himself a .348 batting average. What is incredible is that he has walked 10 times and struck out just twice since joining the Surge. He’s been on base at a .559 clip. He’s always hit line drives and hit for average, and he seems to have always had a real appreciation for getting on base whether by walk or by being hit by a pitch. KERNELS CHRONICLE Cedar Rapids 1, Wisconsin 9 Box Score In the house I grew up in, there was a hole in the wall of the main floor bathroom. It had a mini-door to open. But that’s where we would throw our clothes that needed to be washed. They would magically go in that space and drop into the basement, near the washing machine was brilliant. Most of you probably grew up and maybe still have homes with this “feature.” However, I was today years old when I realized that it was a “clothes chute,” not a “clothes shoot.” Shoot! I thought that the opening just kind of shot the clothes down, probably at a great force that simple gravity, and landed. When asked where the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers play their home games, most will answer by saying they play in Appleton, Wisconsin. And, frankly, the team’s mailing address is to Appleton. However, their home stadium, Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium” is in Grand Chute, which is essentially a suburb on the northern side of Lake Winnebago. I got curious and searched “What is a chute?” “A sloping channel or slide for conveying things to a lower level” So yeah, we had a “Clothes Chute.” Oh yeah, there was a baseball game in Grand Chute on Thursday night, pitting the Kernels against the Wisconsin Udder Tuggers. What a great minor-league name and check out their uniforms too! They will be the Udder Tuggers this whole weekend. Cesar Lares started for the Kernels. The lefty worked out of trouble in the first inning with some big strikeouts. However, he wasn’t able to stop the Tuggers from scoring in the second inning. In total, he gave up eight runs on six hits, two walks, and three hit batters. He had three strikeouts but really struggled with control and command. Adam Falinski got the final out of that second inning. He gave up one run on three hits and two walks over the next three innings. Mitch Mueller threw two scoreless innings, and Sam Rochard got the final three outs. Eduardo Tait went 2-for-3 with a walk in the game. He notched his 14th double of the year. He scored the team’s lone run in the sixth inning when Jacob McCombs singled him in. McCombs went 2-for-4. The Kernels hosted Wisconsin a couple of weeks ago. Even after top hitters Andrew Fischer and Josh Adamczewski were promoted last week to Double-A, the Rattlers lineup is still quite strong. Check out the Brewers Top 20 prospects, several on this Wisconsin roster, of our sister site Brewer Fanatic. MIGHTY MATTERS Ft. Myers 7, St. Lucie 6 Box Score First things first. Yes, Ryan Sprock got a hit. He was 1-for-4 with a walk. He also stole OK, this was a good, competitive game. The Mussels took an early 2-0 lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Ramiro Dominguez reached on an error. Jayson Bass singled him to third. With two outs, Bass stole second and Dominguez stole home. The successful double steal gave the team a 1-0 lead. It was the 17th stolen base for each of them. Luis Fragoza followed with a double to drive in Bass with the second run. The Mets took the lead in the top of the fourth when they scored three runs. However, the Mussels responded immediately, scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Ricardo Paez led off with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. Ricardo Pena was hit by a pitch. Harry Genth, to no one’s surprise, was also hit by a pitch to load the bases. Merphy Hernandez walked to tie the game at 3-3. Ryan Sprock came up and lined a single to right to drive in Pena and Genth. Sprock went to second and Hernandez scored on a throwing error to make it 6-3. Ramiro Villanueva started and gave up three runs on six hits. In five innings, he had four strikeouts. Callan Fang came in and gave up one run on one hit and one walk over three innings. He struck out four batters. Nick McAuliffe came in for the ninth. He gave up two runs on three hits and a walk. That sent the game to the bottom of the ninth, tied at six. With one out, Quentin Young stepped to the plate. He was 0-for-4 at that point with three strikeouts. The first pitch was a 97 mph fastball that Young took for ball one. It was just above the strike zone. The second pitch was a 95.9 mph fastball, thigh high in the middle of the inner half of the plate. Young swung. The ball left his bat at 108.1 mph at a 26-degree angle. It landed well beyond the fence in center field. The Mussels won in a Young walk off! The Mussels scored their seven runs on six hits and five walks. Fragoza went 2-for-4 with his 10th double. Hernandez walked twice and stole his 19th and 20th bases. Check out the newest of our DiamondCentric sites, Grand Central Mets. Check out their Top 20 Mets Prospect rankings. Several are members of this St. Lucie roster. COMPLEX CHRONICLES FCL Twins 3, FCL Braves 1 Box Score There wasn’t a lot of offense in this game, but the Twins were able to score two runs in the sixth inning to take the lead and hold on for the win. It also helps to have a young phenom throw well at the start of the game. Frederick Hiciano started and gave up one run on two hits over four innings. He hit a batter, walked none, and struck out six batters. Carter Holjes struck out three batters over the final three innings. He gave up no runs and no hits. He walked one and hit a batter to earn the Win. The Twins took the first lead in the top of the second when Darwin Almanzar singled to drive in Joyner Perez. The Braves tied it in the bottom of the fourth with a run. With one out in the top of the sixth, the Twins jumped ahead with some more traditional FCL runs. Yilber Herrera walked and advanced to third on a couple of wild pitches. Almanzar walked, and Daniel Pena was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Herrera scored on a ground out by Daiber De Los Santos, and Almanzar scored on a wild pitch to give them the 3-1 lead. Hiciano signed with the Twins on his 18th birthday. In late May, he was assigned to the FCL Twins from the DSL Twins. This is pretty rare. I can’t think of another pitcher in recent Twins history to have essentially skipped the DSL the year that he signed. I could be wrong. And frankly, he’s older than touted 2025 signings like Santiago Castellanos and acquisitions like Geromy Villoria and Miguel Caraballo. But it is exciting to see an 18-year-old get that opportunity to make that jump and take advantage of it by pitching quite well. Yovanny Duran and Darwin Almanzar each had two hits and a walk in the game. Duran hit his fourth double. Almanazar hit his second triple. Duran stole his 16th and 17th bases of the season. DSL Twins 0, DSL Phillies 7 (Suspended) Box Score Jendy Martinez led off the game for the Twins with a double. The next three batters struck out. And, it was downhill from there. The Phillies batters scored five runs in the first inning and two more in the second inning. The Twins had nine straight batters get out. And then the rains came, and after a delay, the game was suspended going into the bottom of the third inning. PLAYERS OF THE DAY Hitter(s) of the Day Eduardo Tait (Cedar Rapids): 2-for-3, BB, 2B(14), K Pitcher(s) of the Day Frederick Hiciano (FCL Twins): 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 6 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-3, BB, 2B(14), BB, R, K (batted second, played C). #5 - SS Marek Houston (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-4, 2B(1), K (batted second, played SS) #12 - 3B/CF Brandon Winokur (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-4 (batted first, played 3B) #13 - C/OF Khadim Diaw (Wichita) - 0-for-2, 2 BB (batted third, played C) #14 - 3B/SS Quentin Young (Ft. Myers) - 1-for-5, HR(9), RBI, R, 3 K. (batted sixth, played SS) #18 - OF Yasser Mercedes (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-4, K (batted fifth, played RF) #20 - 2B/SS/CF Kyle DeBarge (Wichita) - 0-for-4, 2 K (batted first, played 2B) UPCOMING PROBABLES Friday, June 26 St. Paul @ Louisville (3:05 pm CT) - RHP John Klein (3-2, 5.52 ERA), RHP Ty Langenberg (2-2, 5.79 ERA) Wichita @ Midland (7:00 pm CT) - RHP Cory Lewis (0-2, 4.57 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (6:40 pm CT) - RHP Ivran Romero (2-3, 9.63 ERA) St. Lucie @ Ft. Myers (6:05 pm CT) - RHP Jason Reitz (0-0, 2.63 ERA) FCL Twins @ FCL Red Sox (9:00 am CT) - completion of 6/20 game + regularly schedule game DSL Miami @ DSL Twins (10:00 am CT) - CURRENT W-L Records Minnesota Twins: 38-44 (3rd place (of 5) in AL Central, 4.5 GB)) St. Paul Saints: 43-33 (3rd place (of 10) in IL West Division, 4.0 GB)) Wichita Wind Surge: 26-44 (5th place (of 5) in TL North Division, 20.0 GB)) Cedar Rapids Kernels: 31-38 (4th place (of 6) in MWL West Division, 11.5 GB)) Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 41-30 (2nd place (of 6) in FSL West Division, 0.5 GB)) FCL Twins: 21-17 (3rd place (of 6) in FCL South Division, 1.5 GB)) DSL Twins: 6-11 (6th place (of 7) in DSL East Division, 5.5 GB)) 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

It was a rough Thursday for the top four San Diego Padres affiliates, which all lost. The Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas were blanked by Sugar Land 11-0, the Double-A San Antonio Missions fell to Arkansas 12-7, the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps didn't score in an 8-0 loss to Lake County and the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm came up short vs. Fresno 8-7. Padres Minor-League Transactions San Diego Padres sent 1B Nick Solak outright to El Paso Chihuahuas. 1B Nick Solak elected free agency. San Diego Padres sent 2B Jake Cronenworth on a rehab assignment to El Paso Chihuahuas. Matt Waldron Walks Four In Rehab Outing As Chihuahuas Lose Padres right-hander Matt Waldron made his third rehab start, turning in a rocky 2⅔ innings, and the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas gave up nine runs late in an 11-2 setback to the Sugar Lane Space Cowboys. Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth was scheduled to make his first rehab appearance following a concussion, but the paperwork was finished in time to allow him to play, according to Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Croenworth will be in Friday's game. Sugar Land had a rehabber of its own in Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr., who struck out four and allowed two hits in three shutout innings. Waldron walked four and allowed two hits and two runs while striking out four. Right-hander Misael Tamarez followed Waldron with a career-best 3⅓ shutout innings. Marcos Castanon and Nick Schnell each had two of the Chihuahuas' seven hits. Carlos Rodriguez had a single and a walk to keep his on-base streak alive at 33. The Chihuahuas had runners on in eight of the nine innings. Player AB R H RBI BB K Mason McCoy 4 0 0 0 0 1 Clay Dungan 4 0 0 0 0 1 Pablo Reyes 4 0 1 0 0 1 Carlos Rodríguez 3 0 1 0 1 0 Marcos Castañon 4 0 2 0 0 1 Bryce Johnson 4 0 0 0 0 0 Romeo Sanabria 3 0 0 0 0 1 Nick Schnell 3 0 2 0 0 0 Anthony Vilar 2 0 0 0 0 1 Blake Hunt 1 0 1 0 0 0 Totals 32 0 7 0 1 6 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Matt Waldron 2 2/3 2 2 2 4 4 0 Misael Tamarez 3 1/3 1 0 0 1 1 0 Ty Adcock 1 2 2 2 2 1 0 Michael Flynn 2/3 2 6 6 4 1 1 Triston McKenzie 0 0 1 1 4 0 0 Victor Duarte 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 8 7 11 11 15 7 1 Missions Throttled By Early Travelers Surge The Double-A San Antonio Missions gave up nine runs in the first three innings en route to a 12-7 loss to the host Arkansas Travelers. Kai Roberts went 4-for-5, Ryan Jackson had two hits and three RBIs and Chris Sargent Jr. had a homered, had a pair of hits, two RBIs and two runs scored for the Missions. Tirso Ornelas also had two hits, while Kai Murphy homered and scored three times. Missions right-handed starter Ian Koenig was lit up for seven runs (six runs), including a pair of homers, in two innings on nine hits with a walk and a strikeout. Arkansas scored three in the first and four in the second before the Missions got a pair back in the top of the third on a Ryan Jackson double, then the Travelers got two more in the bottom of the third. SA_0625.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Ryan Jackson 6 0 2 3 0 1 Francisco Acuna 5 0 1 0 0 2 Tirso Ornelas 4 0 2 0 1 0 Jake Cunningham 5 0 1 0 0 1 Braedon Karpathios 5 0 1 0 0 1 Luis Verdugo 4 1 0 0 1 2 Kai Murphy 5 3 1 1 0 0 Kai Roberts 5 1 4 1 0 0 Chris Sargent 3 2 2 2 2 0 Totals 42 7 14 7 4 7 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Ian Koenig 2 9 7 6 1 1 3 Andrew Thurman 3 3 2 2 1 4 0 Clark Candiotti 2 2 2 2 1 3 0 Francis Peña 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 Totals 8 15 12 11 4 10 4 TinCaps Bottled Up, Blanked By Captains The combination of a poor start and a punchless offense led the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps to drop an 8-0 decision to the Lake County Captains. Three Captains pitchers combined to limit the TinCaps to two hits. Kavares Tears had a leadoff single in the third inning and Justin DeCriscio a two-out single in the sixth for the TinCaps' only hits. TinCaps right-handed starter Carson Montgomery gave up five runs in just 1⅔ innings on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Right-hander Nick Falter followed by allowing three runs in two-thirds of an inning on five hits and a walk. Player AB R H RBI BB K Ryan Wideman 4 0 0 0 0 1 Justin DeCriscio 4 0 1 0 0 2 Luke Cantwell 4 0 0 0 0 4 Kerrington Cross 3 0 0 0 1 1 Lamar King Jr. 3 0 0 0 0 1 Zach Evans 3 0 0 0 0 1 Kavares Tears 3 0 1 0 0 1 Oswaldo Linares 3 0 0 0 0 0 Jack Costello 3 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 30 0 2 0 1 11 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Carson Montgomery 1 2/3 4 5 5 3 2 1 Nick Falter 2/3 5 3 3 1 1 1 Bernard Jose 1 2/3 0 0 0 0 3 0 Ryan Och 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 Javier Chacon 2 0 0 0 1 3 0 Totals 8 10 8 8 5 11 2 Storm Rally Comes Up Shy Against Grizzlies Yoiber Ocopio and Jose Verdugo each drove in a pair of runs, but the host Lake Elsinore Storm came up short in an 8-7 loss to the Fresno Grizzlies. Storm right-hander Lan-Hong Su, a 19-year-old international signing in October from Taiwan, gave up four runs in 2⅔ innings in his Lake Elsinore debut. He allowed four hits, while walking one and striking out two. Fresno scored once in the top of the first, but the Storm came back in the bottom half on a Dylan Grego one-out double, Jose Verdugo was hit by a pitch with two outs and Ocopio brought them both home with a double. The Grizzlies tied it in the top of the second, scored twice in the third, two more in the fifth and one more in the sixth and seventh for an 8-2 lead. But the Storm made a furious comeback in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Yimy Tovar singled, Dawson Willis walked and Grego hit a grounder to short that was booted, allowing Tovar to score. Qrey Lott struck out, but reached on a wild pitch with Willis scoring and Grego going to third. Verdugo followed with a two-run double to make it 8-6, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball to pull within 8-7. LE_0625.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Dawson Willis 4 1 0 0 1 2 Dylan Grego 4 2 1 0 1 0 Qrey Lott 4 1 0 0 0 3 Jorge Quintana 1 0 0 0 0 1 Jose Verdugo 4 2 1 2 0 1 Yoiber Ocopio 3 0 1 2 1 1 Bradley Frye 2 0 0 0 2 2 Truitt Madonna 4 0 0 0 0 2 George Bilecki 4 0 0 0 0 2 Yimy Tovar 3 1 1 0 1 1 Totals 33 7 4 4 6 15 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Lan-Hong Su 2 2/3 4 4 4 1 2 1 Cal Riehl 2 1/3 3 2 2 1 1 0 Zack Qin 3 3 2 2 1 4 0 Rordy Mejia 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 Totals 9 11 8 8 3 9 1 Padres Mission's Top 20 Prospect Performance Ethan Salas: On injured list Kash Mayfield: DNP Miguel Mendez: DNP Kruz Schoolcraft: DNP Ryan Wideman: 0-for-4, K Jorge Quintana: 0-for-1, K Ty Harvey: On injured list Kale Fountain: Injured, out for season Braedon Karpathios: 1-for-5, 2B, K Lamar King Jr.: 0-for-3, K Jagger Haynes: DNP Alex McCoy: DNP Truitt Madonna: 0-for-4, 2 K Tucker Musgrove: DNP Garrett Hawkins: DNP Michael Salina: DNP Eric Yost: DNP Rosman Verdugo: DNP Bryan Balzer: DNP Deivid Coronil: DNP View the full article

The Twins moved two of their top catching prospects up a level in the Minors last week. Khadim Diaw was promoted from Cedar Rapids to Double-A Wichita, and Enrique Jimenez took his vacant spot on the Kernels roster. Both are serious contenders to play roles in the Twins' MLB catching depth in the future. Jamie and Jeremy go over their promotions and what they mean for the top catching prospect, Eduardo Tait. View the full article

Once again in 2026, I will be monitoring Miami Marlins predictions from our valued SuperSubs, Fish On First staffers and livestream guests. Individual article pages like this one will be created prior to every Marlins series and featured prominently on the FOF site. Consistent participation is key if you want to win this annual contest. Submissions only take a few seconds. Scoring system A "perfect" series is worth three points: Earn one point for predicting which team will win the upcoming series Earn one point for predicting the precise number of victories for each team Earn one point for predicting the “Series MVP” who accumulated the highest win probability added (WPA) during the series as calculated by FanGraphs (could pick a player from either team) FOF staffer Jeremiah Geiger is currently atop the 2026 season leaderboard, which will be updated between every Marlins series. If you are a SuperSub, leave a comment with your Prediction Time picks on this page, or join the Marlins Discord Server and submit there. We'll feature them on the upcoming Fish On First LIVE episode and track your points throughout the season! Any picks submitted prior to the first pitch of the series opener will be counted. If you are not a SuperSub, please consider signing up here to support the FOF staff. Series preview notes Probable starting pitchers: RHP Max Meyer (MIA) vs. RHP Dustin May (STL) on Friday TBA (MIA) vs. RHP Andre Pallante (STL) on Saturday Ryan Gusto likely to pitch bulk innings TBA (MIA) vs. TBA (STL) on Sunday The Marlins rank 19th in MLB with a 97 wRC+ and 12th in MLB with a 3.97 FIP. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games and have a 14-22 record on the road this season. The following Marlins players are on the injured list: Josh Ekness (60-day IL), Ronny Henriquez (60-day IL), Liam Hicks (10-day IL), Janson Junk (15-day IL), Adam Mazur (60-day IL), Andrew Nardi (60-day IL) and Robby Snelling (60-day IL). The Cardinals rank seventh in MLB with a 104 wRC+ and 20th in MLB with a 4.35 FIP. They are 4-6 in their last 10 games and have a 18-22 record at home this season. The following Cardinals players are on the injured list: Ryan Fernandez (15-day IL) and Ramón Urias (60-day IL). View the full article

Owen Hill is joined by Matt Creally to talk about the Blue Jays' meltdown and fumbling another chance to get to and above .500. They talk about the puzzling pick-off attempt towards third base by Jeff Hoffman, Luis Urias' confounding baserunning error, and George Springer's lack of execution in extra innings in a wide-ranging conversation about the importance of execution. Matt brings analysis to Shane Bieber's disappointing season debut before the guys get to a positive Dylan Cease performance and preview the upcoming four-game set against the Texas Rangers. 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

MIAMI—On a memorable Tuesday night at loanDepot park, Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara etched his name into franchise history, becoming the Miami Marlins’ all-time strikeout leader. The 30-year-old Dominican right-hander recorded career strikeout No. 1,002 with Miami, surpassing franchise icon Ricky Nolasco’s previous record of 1,001. Alcantara, along with big performances from youngsters Joe Mack and Owen Caissie, helped lead the Marlins to a comfortable 6-1 victory over the Texas Rangers. Miami improved to 41-39, moving back to two games above .500. Entering Tuesday’s start, Alcantara sat at 998 career strikeouts with the Marlins, three shy of Nolasco’s franchise record. After not recording a single strikeout through the first two innings, Alcantara won an 11-pitch battle against longtime Marlin-killer Brandon Nimmo to record No. 999 in the third inning. A couple of innings later, Alcantara recorded strikeouts No. 1,000 and 1,001 by getting Wyatt Langford looking and Nimmo swinging once again. The right-hander entered the sixth inning needing just one more strikeout to stand alone atop the franchise leaderboard. Before he took the mound in the sixth, Owen Caissie provided some extra insurance with a three-run home run that extended Miami’s lead to 6-1 and gave Alcantara some breathing room. “After I had made my latest strikeout, maybe I got a little bit nervous because I knew what was happening, but I just stayed aggressive and did my thing.” After a quick 1-2-3 sixth inning without a strikeout, Marlins manager Clayton McCullough sent the right-hander back out for the seventh with 90 pitches. When asked if he purposely left Alcantara in the game to chase the record, McCullough admitted that the moment was important. “We knew where he was. We wanted him to do this at home. It’s more special if we had the chance, knowing what was at stake. We said to go back out there, get the strikeout, while also being as responsible as I could with how many pitches he was going to throw in that inning. Luckily, he did it quickly.” With one out, Alcantara got Kyle Higashioka swinging through a slider low and away for strikeout No. 1,002. The crowd rose to its feet, catcher Joe Mack stepped in front of the plate to let the moment breathe, and Alcantara tipped his cap to the Miami faithful. While the scoreboard was slightly delayed in announcing the milestone, a large portion of the fans knew exactly what had just happened. After walking the next batter, McCullough trotted out to the mound to take the ball from his ace. Alcantara dapped up each of his infield teammates and hugged his manager before taking a walk he usually loathes: back to the dugout in the middle of an inning. “I told him to enjoy this walk because tonight should be one of those that you enjoy and soak it all in,” McCullough said. In addition to setting the strikeout record, Alcantara also recorded his fifth consecutive quality start in June, allowing just one run over 6.2 innings pitched. His season ERA has dropped to 4.01 thanks to his dominant month. He also surpassed the late José Fernández with the all-time wins in loanDepot park with his 30th. The Marlins acquired the now-30-year-old right-hander in the winter of 2017-18 in one of the first trades made during the Bruce Sherman era. Miami sent outfielder Marcell Ozuna to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Zac Gallen, Magneuris Sierra, Dan Castano and Alcantara. The deal was completed just two months after Sherman and Derek Jeter purchased the team. Since making his team debut on June 29, 2018, the 6-foot-7 flamethrower has appeared in 186 games for the Marlins—all of them starts. He has accumulated 1,177 innings pitched (second-most in franchise history), 13 complete games (third-most), five shutouts (third-most), a Cy Young Award and multiple All-Star appearances. When former president of baseball operations Michael Hill completed the infamous five-player trade with St. Louis, he likely would have been thrilled with even half of what Alcantara has become. To say he has exceeded expectations would be a massive understatement, as he is in the conversation to be on the Marlins' all-time Mount Rushmore. “Very proud of myself, the way that I’ve been growing here in this organization, and grateful for all the opportunities that this team gives to me every day,” Alcantara said. View the full article

Fish On First staffers react to the latest Miami Marlins series and prepare you for what lies ahead. Thursday's show was hosted by Jeremiah Geiger and featured panelists Ely Sussman, Nate Karzmer, Isaac Azout and Kevin Barral. You can find Fish Unfiltered and Fish On First LIVE on the Fish On First YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your pods. Our next FOF LIVE episode will be Sunday at approximately 6:30 p.m. ET following the Marlins-Cardinals series finale. View the full article

There are a thesaurus of words to describe the Mets' effort yesterday — harrowing, ghastly, appalling, alarming, heinous, scandalous, and biotoxic are only some. Alone, none suffice. Together ... well, we're getting there. We knew there'd be changes to the roster by today. What we get is more than the cynical heart suspected (everything is fine, nothing to see here), but far less than the angry heart may have demanded (a mass exile). Everything is not fine, but everything does continue. Transactions, 6/24/2026 GOING NEUTRAL COMING Designated for Assignment Transferred from Rotation Ended Rehab Assignment, Activated from Injured List Ended Rehab Assignment, Activated from Injured List, Demoted to Syracuse Infielders Relief Pitchers Infielders Zack Short Kodai Senga Francisco Lindor Ronny Mauricio R/R DoB: 34848 High Level: MLB (2026) L/R DoB: 1993-01-30 High Level: MLB (2026) S/R DoB: 1993-11-14 High Level: MLB (2026) S/R DoB: 2001-04-04 High Level: MLB (2026) Yesterday's Game Two was so bad that it is almost easy to forget how very bad Game One was also. But Game One came with the virtue of the assumption that the cavalry was on its way between games. Whatever horror the fates and Cubs conspired to bestow (and bestow they did), Francisco Lindor was expected to be activated between games, Zack Short to end his second Mets tenure and maybe Ronny Mauricio and Tyrone Taylor. As bad as things are, these were never really the Mets without LIndor, we could tell ourselves. It's a child's denial, but a tiny echo of it resounded through many a reasoning adult's head. (You have to hang your hat on something, right?) Short checks out with a .250 OPS in 9 plate appearances in his second Mets go-around, an actual step down from the .384 in 12 plate appearances he filed in 2024. Such is the unlikely but all too true level of failure on the 2026 Mets. At least Short's leaving opened a door for Jose Iglesias and an enormous turnaround in 2024, right? RIGHT? You have to hang your hat on something. Beyond that, the day's dealings included an announcement that Kodai Senga — who has shown promise in short bursts, and calamity in longer ones — is bullpen bound. By the end of the day, the Mets would be down to three starting pitchers. Transactions, 6/25/2026 GOING COMING Traded to CHC for Cole Mathis Demoted to Syracuse Placed on 10-Day Injured List with Left Hip Flexor Strain Promoted from Syracuse Starting Pitchers Relief Pitchers Infielders Relief Pitchers David Peterson Jonathan Pintaro Marcus Semien Daniel Duarte L/L DoB: 1995-09-03 High Level: MLB (2026) R/R DoB: 1997-11-07 High Level: MLB (2026) R/R DoB: 1990-09-17 High Level: MLB (2026) R/R DoB: 1996-12-04 High Level: MLB (2026) COMING Sent to St. Lucie on Rehab Assignment Acquired from CHC for David Peterson, Assigned to Brooklyn Promoted from Syracuse Relief Pitchers Infielders Dedniel Núñez Cole Mathis Ronny Mauricio R/R DoB: 1996-06-05 High Level: MLB (2026) R/R DoB: 2003-07-25 High Level: A+ (2026) S/R DoB: 2001-04-04 High Level: MLB (2026) The other starting pitcher shed is David Peterson, dean of the Mets staff, and now the third former Mets first-round draft choice to join the 2026 Cubs. The Mets have a history of sending senior staffers who have outlived their current utility Cubward — Aaron Heilman and Ed Lynch come to mind. One only hopes that Cole Mathis brings back some small part of the value the Cubs swindled the Mets of in the person of Pete Crow-Armstrong. Not bloody likely? Again, you have to hang your hat on something. Jonathan Pintaro is unsurprisingly swapped again for Daniel Duarte, who will perhaps soon risk a near perfect line in 2026 by pitching mopup innings in some future misbegotten game as desultory moods plague his team and fans. Or maybe not. Hats must hang. Hang they must. Take, for instance, the launching of Dedniel Núñez upon the 2026 season. Steady Deddy last pitched on July 2 of 2025 before getting sentenced to a year in Tommy Johnville, and now he has completed his sentence a week early. Them's good news, right? Hats and hopes. They've got to hang somewhere. Your 2026 New York Mets Starting Pitchers Relief Pitchers Relief Pitchers Sean Manaea Nolan McLean Freddy Peralta Huascar Brazobán Daniel Duarte R/L DoB: 1992-02-01 R/R DoB: 2001-07-24 R/R DoB: 2996-06-04 R/R DoB: 1989-10-15 R/R DoB: 1996-12-04 Relief Pitchers A.J. Minter Tobias Myers Cionel Pérez Brooks Raley Kodai Senga Austin Warren Luke Weaver L/L DoB: 1993-09-02 R/R DoB: 1998-08-05 R/L DoB: 35176 L/L DoB: 1988-06-29 L/R DoB: 1993-01-30 R/R DoB: 1996-02-05 R/R DoB: 1993-08-21 Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders Devin Williams Francisco Alvarez Luís Torrens Bo Bichette Brett Baty Francisco Lindor Ronny Mauricio R/R DoB: 1994-09-21 R/R DoB: 2001-11-01 R/R DoB: 1996-05-02 R/R DoB: 1998-03-05 L/R DoB: 1999-11-13 S/R DoB: 1993-11-14 S/R DoB: 2001-04-04 Infielders Outfielders Mark Vientos Eric Wagaman Carson Benge A.J. Ewing MJ Melendez Juan Soto Jared Young R/R DoB: 1993-12-11 R/R DoB: 1997-08-14 L/R DoB: 2003-01-20 L/R DoB: 2004-08-10 L/R DoB: 1993-11-29 L/L DoB: 1998-10-25 L/R DoB: 1995-07-09 Also on 40-Player Roster Starting Pitchers Relief Pitchers Clay Holmes Tylor Megill Christian Scott Zach Thornton Jonah Tong Alex Carrillo Reed Garrett R/R DoB: 1993-03-27 R/R DoB: 1995-07-28 R/R DoB: 1999-06-15 L/L DoB: 2002-01-17 R/R DoB: 2003-06-19 R/R DoB: 1997-06-06 R/R DoB: 1993-01-02 Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders Joey Gerber Joey Gerber Justin Hagenman Dedniel Núñez Dylan Ross Hayden Senger Francisco Lindor R/R DoB: 1997-05-03 R/R DoB: 1997-05-03 R/R DoB: 1996-10-07 R/R DoB: 1996-06-05 R/R DoB: 2000-09-01 R/R DoB: 1997-04-03 S/R DoB: 1993-11-14 Infielders Outfielders Marcus Semien Jorge Polanco Nick Morabito Jared Oliva Luis Robert, Jr. Tyrone Taylor R/R DoB: 1990-09-17 S/R DoB: 1999-11-13 R/R DoB: 2003-05-07 R/R DoB: 1995-11-27 R/R DoB: 1997-08-03 R/R DoB: 1994-01-22 Designated for Assignment Infielders Zack Short R/R DoB: 34848 Your Mets Coaching Staff Manager Bench Coach Pitching Coach Hitting Coord. Third Base Coach First Base Coach Bullpen Coach Ass't Pitch. Coach Carlos Mendoza Kai Correa Justin Willard Jeff Albert Tim Leiper Gilbert Gomez José Rosado Dan McKinney DoB: 1979-11-27 DoB: 1989-07-14 DoB: 1990-09-09 DoB: 1992-08-16 DoB: 1996-07-19 DoB: 1992-03-08 DoB: 1974-11-09 DoB: 1989-06-06 Hitting Coach Strategy Coach Catching Coach Coaching Assistant Bat'g Pract. Pitcher Equip. Manager Bullpen Catcher Bullpen Catcher Troy Snitker Danny Barnes J.P. Arencibia Rafael Fernandez Kevin Mahoney Kevin Kierst Eric Langill Dave Racaniello DoB: 1988-12-05 DoB: 1989-10021 DoB: 1986-01-05 DoB: 1988-08-03 DoB: 1987-05-11 DoB: 1964-07-09 DoB: 1979-04-09 DoB: 1978-06-03 Your Mets Training Staff Director of Player Health Head Athletic Trainer Assistant Athletic Trainer Recond. Coordinator Recond. Therapist Head Performance Coach Assistant Performance Coach Performance Coordinator Soft Tissue Specialist Brian Chicklo Joseph Golia Bryan Baca Sean Bardanett Josh Bickel Dustin Clarke Tanner Miracle Jeremy Chiang Hiroto Kawamura DoB: 1972-07-17 DoB: 1978-??-?? DoB: Circa 1980 DoB: 1988-06-23 DoB: 1996-??-?? DoB: 1987-??-?? DoB: 1991-??-?? DoB: ????-??-?? DoB: 1962-07-19 View the full article

One of the Cubs' most impressive prospects is just starting his professional career. At this rate, we should be keeping tabs on Josiah Hartshorn anytime he steps to the plate, because he has been remarkable to watch and could help out the big-league club sooner than you think. Let's dive into Hartshorn’s story, his strengths, weaknesses and overall projected time to crack into the big leagues. Background For starters, Hartshorn is currently the fifth-ranked prospect in the Chicago Cubs’ farm system, according to our rankings here at North Side Baseball—and that stock is rising. Four of his five tools are a 50 grade or better, and at just 19 years of age, he has all of the tools to be a big-leaguer one day. Chicago saw this promise after he participated in the All-Star High School Home Run Derby a couple of years ago, and they selected him in the 6th round of last year’s draft. How is this guy breaking out in his first full season as a pro? Early on this season, Hartshorn was in Low-A Myrtle Beach with the Pelicans. His numbers there were strong. He posted a .273 batting average, .424 on-base percentage and .460 slugging average, crushing five home runs and 15 extra-base hits in total over the course of just 39 games played. He walked more times than he struck out, 34 to 27. The Cubs, liking what they saw, promoted the 19-year-old to High-A with the South Bend Cubs, who just claimed a first half title and will be heading to the playoffs. Here's where things get wild: Through 26 contests there, Hartshorn is hitting .348, with nine home runs, 34 runs batted in and a ridiculous 1.113 OPS. The power is even more lethal, and he’s punishing baseballs three levels removed from the major leagues before his 20th birthday. It's no surprise that he can generate plenty of power from that 220-pound frame, and his 55-grade power attribute and 13 homers through half a season back that up. This all comes from a switch-hitter, excelling at something that’s quickly turning into a lost art of modern baseball. Almost all his power comes from the left side, but he's running a .468 OBP as a right-handed batter, showing a good approach against southpaws. The one weakness to watch out for—and this is nitpicking, given his age and all the other things he's doing well—is that his strikeout rate is starting to spike. After walking more than he struck out in Myrtle Beach, Hartshorn has punched out 23 times in 113 plate appearances for South Bend. This isn’t an awful strikeout rate by any means, but the rise is something to keep an eye on as he faces off against better and better pitching. The plate discipline, ability to identify pitching from a high-level arm and everything that comes with that process should come naturally, as Hartshorn gets more reps. When can we expect to see him in the major leagues? In the best-case scenario, it could be late next year. More realistically, he could stake a claim to a corner outfield job come 2028, but even at that point, he'd be 21 years old. We’re a long way from that. He has to play well for the balance of this season, and eventually, he has to pass the stern test of Double-A pitching. Right now, though, he looks like the best mid- to late-round pick the Cubs have made in some time. View the full article

Marco Raya has never followed a conventional development path. Selected by the Twins in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of high school in Texas, Raya immediately encountered obstacles. The pandemic delayed his professional debut after signing, and a shoulder strain cost him the entire 2021 season. Before he ever threw an official professional pitch, the right-hander had already lost two critical years of development. What followed was a prospect journey defined by patience, flashes of brilliance, and constant questions about what Raya would ultimately become. Electric Stuff From the Beginning When Raya finally debuted in 2022, the talent was obvious. The results were often inconsistent, but evaluators couldn't ignore the quality of his arsenal. In 65 innings, he posted a 3.05 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, 28.9 K%, and 8.7 BB%. Minnesota pushed him to High-A and Double-A during the 2023 season, where he continued to strike out over 25% of batters and kept his walk rate below 9%. Throughout his climb through the system, Raya featured one of the more intriguing collections of pitches in the Twins organization. His fastball sat comfortably in the mid-90s, while his high-spin breaking balls consistently generated ugly swings from hitters who often had no business being fooled by someone several years younger. As a result, Raya became a fixture near the top of Twins prospect rankings despite concerns that never seemed to disappear. His workload was carefully managed, his command could be erratic, and his statistical production rarely matched the quality of his raw stuff. Still, the upside was difficult to ignore. By 2024, everything appeared to be coming together. A Breakthrough Season Raya took a significant step forward in 2024, climbing all the way to Triple-A St. Paul and forcing his way onto Minnesota's 40-man roster. For the first time in his professional career, it looked like he could be a legitimate homegrown starting pitcher capable of impacting the major-league rotation immediately. In 97 2/3 innings, he posted a 4.05 ERA with a 24.6 K% and a 10.5 BB%. As a 21-year-old, he faced older batters in all but 41 plate appearances for the year, making his performance even more impressive. He held younger batters to a .502 OPS with 10 strikeouts and two walks in 39 at-bats. Even then, however, some warning signs remained. The organization continued to handle him cautiously. Since being drafted, Raya had never reached the 100-inning mark in a season. Durability questions lingered, and command remained a work in progress. The raw ingredients were there, but the profile still required significant refinement. Then came 2025. Triple-A Reality Check Raya's return to St. Paul last season proved to be the most difficult stretch of his career. Instead of building on his momentum, he struggled to consistently throw strikes and put hitters away. Walks mounted, wild pitches became common, and outings frequently turned into labor-intensive battles. By season's end, Raya posted a 6.02 ERA with a 12.6 BB%, the highest mark of his career. For the first time since entering professional baseball, he looked overwhelmed, rather than overpowering. The struggles shouldn't completely overshadow the context. Raya spent much of the season as a 22-year-old facing older, more experienced hitters at Triple-A. Few pitchers move as aggressively through the Twins system, and development is rarely linear. Still, the season reinforced what many scouts and evaluators had suspected for years. His future may not be in a starting rotation. The Bullpen Transition The Twins began moving Raya toward relief work late last season, and all indications suggest that transition is now complete. Frankly, the move makes sense. Raya's combination of stuff, durability concerns, and inconsistent command has long pointed toward a bullpen role. Shorter outings should allow him to focus on his strengths while minimizing some of the weaknesses that surfaced as a starter. His fastball already sits in the 95-97 mph range and has climbed higher as he has moved to a more consistent relief role. The sweeper, thrown around 86 mph, remains his signature weapon and continued to generate swings and misses even during last year's struggles. He’s thrown that pitch nearly 30% of the time at Triple-A this year. His mid-80s curveball gives him another legitimate bat-missing offering, particularly against left-handed hitters, while his cutter sits around 90-91 mph and provides another useful look. As a starter, Raya experimented with as many as six pitches. As a reliever, he'll likely need only a handful. Why There's Still Reason for Optimism Despite the disappointing results in 2025, it's important to remember what hasn't changed. Raya is still just 23 years old, even though Twins fans have heard about him for multiple seasons. Raya's overall numbers at Triple-A in 2026 will look poor: a 5.54 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Most of the damage done against him came in April, when he allowed a 1.129 OPS and had an 11.68 ERA. Over the last 28 days, he has a 1.64 ERA and 0.64 WHIP, with 11 strikeouts and no walks in 11 innings. The Twins remain convinced he has major-league talent, which is why they've continued to invest in his development and protected him on the 40-man roster. The quality of his stuff has never been in question. The challenge has always been finding the role that maximizes it. Raya's prospect stock may have taken a hit after a difficult season in St. Paul, but his story is far from finished. In many ways, his transition to the bullpen may represent less of a setback and more of a beginning. For years, the Twins have searched for the best way to unlock his talent. Now they may finally have found it. What role do you envision for Raya in Minnesota's bullpen: middle reliever, setup man, or someone capable of eventually closing games? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

After a few days of mainly bad news regarding the health of the starting rotation, the Chicago Cubs made official what everyone had been anticipating: Matthew Boyd is back. The Cubs activated the left-hander from the 15-day injured list so he could start Thursday's series finale against the New York Mets. Right-handed reliever Gavin Hollowell was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. Boyd had gone on the injured list May 6 after an incident at home where he was playing with his kids and tore his left meniscus, which was immediately repaired via surgery. That came after he missed a good chunk of April with a strained left biceps. Boyd's return comes a couple days after the Cubs placed two starters, Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown, on the 15-day IL. Brown's injury, originally called a neck strain, actually ends up being more serious than first thought, with manager Craig Counsell calling it a stress reaction in his neck and keeping Brown sidelined at least a month. The Cubs also claimed right-hander Bryse Wilson off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. That led the Cubs to make a trade with the Mets following their doubleheader Wednesday in which Chicago acquired left-handed starter David Peterson for prospect first baseman Cole Mathis, who is currently injured. Hollowell has been Yo-Yo'd recently. Called up June 16, he was sent down Tuesday, called up Wednesday and sent back to Iowa on Thursday. He appeared in a total of three games for 2⅔ innings in that span. After the Mets series, the Cubs begin a big three-game series on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers, who lead the NL Central. View the full article

Cole Mathis, aged-22 (and under one month from turning 23) was acquired by the New York Mets early Thursday morning in return for left-handed starting pitcher David Peterson. Mathis, a former second-round selection out of the College of Charleston in the 2024 draft, had a bit of a rocky start to his professional career, but 2026 has been a year in which the right-handed hitter has gotten on track. At Myrtle Beach, the Chicago Cubs' Low-A affiliate, the first base prospect hit seven home runs in just 66 plate appearances, earning a promotion. At South Bend, the Cubs' High-A affiliate, Mathis posted a 116 wRC+ and even started a pair of games at the hot corner. Now a member of the Mets, what can fans expect out of the slugging prospect? Cole Mathis' Strengths: The thing that the burly first base prospect does best is in his plate approach. Mathis has a discerning eye and is not the kind of hitter to allow pitchers to get him out with chase pitches. So far, he's posted walk rates north of 13% at every level with no signs of slowing down. In Baseball America's preseason scouting report, they mentioned that, "He rarely expands the zone and does a good job of staying fairly aggressive on pitches in the strike zone." On top of that, his strikeout rate remains more than acceptable and bordering on "good." He did post an inflated 27% K-rate in 14 games to start the year in Myrtle Beach, but has since dropped below 23% in South Bend. You can expect a professional, hard-working plate appearance when the right-handed hitter steps into the box. Mathis also has some raw-power potential. Back in college, he posted some of the best batted ball data in the entire 2024 draft class and succeeded as well with wood bats in the Cape League. This is imperative, as Mathis just doesn't look like he's going to move off the 1B/DH pathway, so having raw power in his arsenal is a big thing. Lastly, the former second-round pick has had some decent success this year. He's posted a 116 wRC+ in South Bend so far, and while it's true he's only hit three round-trippers since his early-season promotion, his ISO of .229 and nine doubles suggests that he's not far from turning his solid production into something more as he taps into that raw-power potential. Doubles can quickly become home runs with the right adjustments. Cole Mathis' Weaknesses: Mathis was drafted originally by the Cubs as a third baseman, as the team hoped that they could convert him from first to third. On paper, this makes sense; he was a two-way player in college and he had the arm strength to do move across the diamond. One caveat; when the Cubs' selected him, he was already hurt and required Tommy John surgery. TJS doesn't affect position players like they do pitchers; Mathis missed the two months of post-draft time with Chicago but was immediately in the system last year. However, his transition to third has not occurred and it's safe to say he's likely no more than first baseman at any level. What this means is that his pathway is incredibly limited. He has to not only hit, but mash at every level. A 116 wRC+ is not terrible, but you need your first base prospects to be hitting better than 16% over league average if you want a chance to be noticed. It's the nature of the beast; first base is just a really hard life if you aren't a killer at the plate. For him to break out, those doubles have to start turning into dingers and he's got to tap into the power potential more. Another issue is that Mathis was drafted with the idea that he could be a fast-moving prospect. With success with wood bats in his history, there was a belief in the Cubs' circles that he could be in Knoxville, Tennessee by the end of 2025, their Double-A affiliate. Instead, complications from TJS limited his season and he never made it above Low-A and an appearance in the Arizona Fall League. To date, he's still only in High-A. While that doesn't kill his stock by any means, his "fast-mover" status just never materialized and he's on a more normal pathway to the major leagues. Cole Mathis Outlook With Mets Cole Mathis is a prospect who has probably more value in his draft pedigree than on paper, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. There's a really fun player in there, one who's shown real pop with wood bats (albeit in college) and has some excellent batted-ball data in the past. He's proven in the past that there's real upside, he just hasn't always had a chance to show the same upside as a professional... yet. Because of that, you can look a this in two ways with skepticism and pessimism or with an eye to the future with optimism. If you're a glass-half-empty type, Mathis is an underwhelming first base prospect. His pathway to the MLB is narrow because of his position to begin with, and even with a mature approach, right-handed-hitting prospects who don't play anything other than first aren't great on paper. Perhaps the TJS surgery robbed him of some power in his elbow and it won't come back. This outcome puts him squarely in the second-division tier of upside and he still has to master a few levels before we think about him as an MLB option. However, if you're a glass-half-full type, you're in luck because there is upside. He's a player who's spent time hurt which may have not sapped his power forever, but instead, temporarily. He did hit seven bombs in Myrtle Beach, which is an famously tricky place to hit in April. With nine doubles in 25 games in South Bend, you only need three of those to get over the wall before he looks far more interesting. This could be ability to get into an undervalued prospect who's on the precipice of breaking out and becoming (mostly) the guy the Cubs thought they drafted in the second round. Generally speaking, this seems like fair value for David Peterson on both ends. The Cubs get a pitcher underperforming his peripherals and who will add a lot of ground ball ability to an elite defensive infield. The Mets get a prospect who has a narrow, but possible MLB pathway and who may still offer untapped upside as he works his way back to being healthy. It's likely that Mathis heads to Brooklyn to join the Met's High-A team to get acclimated. With a strong start, or when the team feels as though he's advanced enough, there's a realistic chance he ends the year in Binghamton with the Rumble Ponies. Mathis may never garner top-100 hype because it's just hard to do as a first baseman, but he does offer MLB upside and for David Peterson in what feels like a lost season, that's a win for the Mets. 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The Boston Red Sox have reached the 50-game mark under interim manager Chad Tracy, and while the team has shown signs of progress, they remain near the bottom of the American League standings. With the trade deadline looming, the organization must decide whether he has done enough to lead the team moving forward. Tracy inherited a difficult situation. Before his promotion, his predecessor, Alex Cora, was released after starting the season with a 10-17 record and sitting at the bottom of the American League East standings. While Cora's roster dealt with some injuries, it was the regression of his offense that was really the nail in the coffin. Expected to build off of last season’s breakout prospects, like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, the lineup instead saw a complete decline, with the team having the second-lowest team wRC+ of 84 during this span. This regression, along with disagreement of philosophies with Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow, caused Cora, along with six of his staff, to be fired. Previously managing the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, Tracy's familiarity with several of the struggling young prospects made him a natural choice to take over. This familiarity, along with a more analytical approach to the team’s struggles, helped bring stability to the Red Sox lineup. After just over 50 games, the team is 22-29 under him, but has shown flashes of better times to come. The offense as a whole has seen the most improvement under Tracy. Since taking over, the team ranks in the top 10 in the MLB in batting average in large part due to Tracy’s rebuilt hitting staff, which has helped several struggling players find their footing. No turnaround has been more noticeable than that of third baseman Caleb Durbin. After an underwhelming start to the season, Durbin has flourished under the guidance of Tracy’s staff. The skipper's public support of Durbin fixing his mechanics with a private hitting coach has sparked results for the 26-year-old. Over the past month, Durbin is batting .325/.341/.610 with a .952 OPS while hitting four home runs. Tracy also used his familiarity with the farm system to address some weaknesses on the roster. In May, Tracy called up catcher Mickey Gasper after getting underwhelming production from Carlos Narváez and Connor Wong. Since his call-up, Gasper has carved himself a starting role, batting .255/.319/.324 and slotting into the leadoff spot while Jarren Duran continues to work out his swing. But although the individual improvements have been welcomed, they have yet to translate to wins. The team currently has a record of 32-46 and has the worst record American League. While as a group they have improved their individual batting averages, as a team, they rank in the bottom five of the MLB in runs and home runs under Tracy’s tenure, still not taking advantage of the solid production from their pitching staff. This inconsistency leaves the Red Sox front office with a difficult decision. Is the development of young players enough to justify allowing Tracy and his staff to continue leading the team's growth, or should immediate results be the organization's top priority? With the trade deadline approaching, the next month may determine not only which players stay, but whether Tracy has done enough to remain part of the organization's long-term plans. View the full article

With one infielder back, another has gone down. The New York Mets on Thursday placed second baseman Marcus Semien on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hip flexor. Infielder Ronny Mauricio was called up from Triple-A Syracuse a day after coming off the 60-day IL and being sent down. Semien played both ends of Wednesday's doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Chicago Cubs, going 1-for-8. Going on the IL is a rare occurrence for Semien. When he fractured a bone in his left foot on a foul ball in August, it sent him to the IL for the first time since 2017. But Semien is also having one of his worst offensive seasons, putting up a .214/.271/.341 slash line with nine homers and 29 RBIs while playing all 80 games. Semien's exit comes a day after shortstop Francisco Lindor returned from a strained left calf that kept him sidelined since April 23. Mauricio was supposed to be Lindor's replacement, but he broke his left thumb May 5 and had been out since then. Now he will get a chance to fill in for Semien. Mauricio was 7-for-32 with a homer and two RBIs in 10 games before being injured. View the full article

For the Milwaukee Brewers, the 2018 season wasn’t just the culmination of building a team that came within a game of the World Series. It was the beginning of a golden era. One of the big reasons for this is their farm system, which they've built by hitting on a lot of their top picks each June. The current Brewers active roster features three first-round picks, with another one that has seen a few cups of coffee. So, how have the Brewers’ first-rounders (including Competitive Balance A and compensation picks) fared? Let’s grade them. 2B Brice Turang, 2018 1st-round pick GRADE: A+ In 2018, as the Brewers made big memories with a Game 163 win over the Cubs to secure the NL Central title and top seed in the playoffs, they also drafted Brice Turang in the first round and gave him a little over $3.4 million as a signing bonus. In three-plus seasons, he’s arguably become the best second baseman in franchise history. The real question is how long he will be in Milwaukee. LHP Ethan Small, 2019 1st-round pick GRADE: D+ Ethan Small’s signing bonus was only $1.8 million, but early on, he rose rapidly through the system, earning a spot in the 2021 Futures Game. However, he also started having injury trouble. In 2022 and 2023, he wasn’t quite the same, and after four games with Milwaukee, he was purchased by the San Francisco Giants, but never got to the majors with them. OF Garrett Mitchell, 2020 1st-round pick GRADE: B Garrett Mitchell’s got talent; that is undeniable. But he’s also missed large parts of two seasons with injuries, and there is an offensive vulnerability to strikeouts. Still, he is under team control through 2028. With a lot of prospects in the minors, the Brewers may need to make a decision about whether to hold onto him for the longer term, but he's been productive—especially this year. OF Sal Frelick, 2021 1st-round pick GRADE: A- Frelick was selected in the first round of the 2021 draft and collected a cool $4 million as a bonus. He first made the majors in 2023, earned a Gold Glove in 2024, took an offensive step up in 2025, and has been solid (though far from spectacular) in 2026. Like Mitchell, there is a fair bit of team control left, and the Brewers may need to make a similar hold-or-deal decision on Frelick, but not quite yet. OF/1B/DH Tyler Black, 2021 CB-A pick GRADE: C+ After his breakout 2023 season at Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville, Black seemed poised to make inroads with the team in 2024. He started getting reps at the hot corner, and at first base. Then the Brewers acquired Oliver Dunn and Joey Ortiz, while his path at first base was blocked by Rhys Hoskins and Jake Bauers. Since then, he’s been on the Nashville-Milwaukee shuttle, and his last option year has been used. In fairness, though, he also hasn't seized the few chances he's gotten. IF/OF Eric Brown Jr., 2022 1st-round pick GRADE: C- Eric Brown Jr. was seen as an exciting pick when selected in 2022, but he missed significant chunks of the 2023 and 2025 seasons with injuries and struggled at Double-A Biloxi in 2024. He’s seen a bit of a resurgence since, even as he was caught behind Jesus Made and Dylan O’Rae, but he’s still showing enough to make his way to Milwaukee as a more potent version of Andruw Monasterio, who became a cult hero out of nowhere. Still, the Brewers could have had Dalton Rushing at that spot, setting up a nice 1-2 punch behind the plate with William Contreras and/or Jeferson Quero through the rest of this decade. 3B Brock Wilken, 2023 1st-round pick GRADE: D+ Brock Wilken looked like a very potent right-handed slugger at the hot corner when selected in 2023. The next April, he suffered facial fractures when he was hit by a pitch, and his career seems to have never really recovered. After a decent 2024 at Double-A Biloxi, he missed more time with a knee injury in 2025. In Triple-A Nashville, he’s hitting 25 points below the Uecker line. Colt Emerson and Kevin McGonigle were drafted later, and both are contributing in the majors. OF Braylon Payne, 2024 1st-round pick GRADE: B Braylon Payne was one of the youngest prospects in the 2024 MLB draft, and the Brewers managed to sign him for a $3.44 million bonus. Although he had some relatively high strikeout totals in 2025 at Single-A Carolina, he’s had an offensive breakout at Advanced-A Wisconsin, and looks to be ready to make his climb to the majors relatively quickly. 1B Blake Burke, 2024 CB-A pick GRADE: B+ The pick the Brewers used to select Blake Burke was acquired in the Corbin Burnes trade, and there’s a chance it may be the best asset they got in that deal. Burke has a chance to be a better version of Bauers at the plate, which could enable him to provide Milwaukee the most stability at first base since Prince Fielder came up to the majors for good. That's not yet likely, but it's possible, which is impressive. 3B/1B Andrew Fischer, 2025 1st-round pick GRADE: B Andrew Fischer just got a promotion to Double-A Biloxi in his first full season of pro ball, after he mashed 20 homers for Advanced-A Wisconsin, posting a 1.118 OPS there. That, in turn, came after he made a name for himself in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. If there is a concern, it’s his high strikeout total, but so far, he’s looking very good. SS Brady Ebel, 2025 compensation pick (for SS Willy Adames) GRADE: B Ebel had a rough start, but has since taken his season OBP to .401 as of June 24. He’s adding some speed, a little pop, and proving to be a solid defender. So far, he’s also working out well for the Brewers, who have several other talented players in the middle infield in the system. 2025 CB-A Pick (Traded to Boston for RHP Quinn Priester) GRADE: A+ While the trade for Quinn Priester was a worst-case scenario for the 2025 Brewers due to the rotation's injury situation, Priester broke out for the team, becoming a stopper in their rotation. While he will miss the rest of 2026 with thoracic outlet syndrome, he remains under team control through 2030, and given the track record the Brewers have shown in helping pitchers revitalize their careers after various forms of adversity, the Brewers can feel good about the use of this pick. If you think about it as a draft pick that actively helped the team win that year's division title, the deftness of the move comes into focus. How would you grade the Brewers’ top picks since 2018? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

Blue Jays Affiliate Overview (June 23 - June 24) Triple-A Buffalo Bisons Series vs Iowa Cubs (Chicago White Sox): 1-1 Season Record: 36-41 Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats Series vs Somerset Patriots (New York Yankees): 1-1 Season Record: 35-34 High-A Vancouver Canadians Series vs Hillsboro Hops (Arizona Diamondbacks): 0-1 Season Record: 29-42 Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays Series vs Tampa Tarpons (New York Yankees): 0-2 Season Record: 32-38 FCL Blue Jays Week Record: 1-0 Season Record: 27-11 DSL Blue Jays Blue Week Record: 0-1 Season Record: 6-11 DSL Blue Jays Red Week Record: 0-1 Season Record: 5-12 Triple-A Buffalo Bisons Season Record: 36-41 Series vs Iowa Cubs (Chicago Cubs) June 23: The Buffalo Bisons had themselves a power surge on Tuesday to open up a new series against the Iowa Cubs. Jay Harry was moved into the lead-off spot in the batting order and rewarded Buffalo with a big game. He went 3-5, scoring two runs, and knocking in four runs. His big hit came in the fifth inning, when he crushed a pitch up and away to right for a three-run home run. Je'Von joined him with a big blast of his own, a solo shot to center field in the seventh, which was smoked at 110 mph off the bat. While the bats were scoring left and right, the pitching was an utter disappointment. Richard Gallardo gave up two runs as the starting pitcher, CJ Van Eyk coughed up five in just 0.2 innings pitched, and then Justin Topa and Chase Lee each surrendered runs as well. The Bisons found themselves down two in the top of the ninth inning, when Carlos Mendoza came to the plate, following a Josh Rivera double. Mendoza lofted a pitch, at 38° launch angle, over the right field wall for a game-tying two-run home run. In the tenth, Sean Keys and Charles McAdoo each had RBI doubles, then Willie MacIver tacked in a big shot of his own. He roped a fastball 108.8 mph off the bat for a solo home run, giving the Bisons a three-run lead headed into the bottom of the tenth. Lee would get touched up in the tenth for the two runs he allowed, before giving way to Matt Bowman, who came up clutch for Buffalo. Up just one, with two on and nobody out, Bowman got a double play and a groundout to end the threat and the game. Buffalo squeaked out an 11-10 win in a game with a ton of fireworks and excitement. June 24: Wednesday's game against Iowa had just as many, if not more, fireworks on the field. Jonatan Clase joined the fun, smacking a two-run home run in the first inning. C.J. Stubbs would get one of his own in the ninth, a solo shot to center. It was the hardest hit home run for the Bisons over the last two days, a 111.8 mph rope that went 426 feet. Jay Harry even added two more hits out of the lead-off spot, chipping in two RBI, and scoring once. The standout of the day at the plate wouldn't be any of those Bisons, though; it would be Sean Keys. He continues to push towards a call-up to the big league club, knocking two more home runs in this game, both of the two-run variety. While the bats were alive and thriving for Buffalo, their pitching was even worse than on Tuesday. Jake Bloss surrendered five runs over his 3.1 innings, Devereaux and Conor Larkin each gave up six, and Yariel Rodriguez also coughed up a run. The Bisons scored a ton, but Iowa dropped 18 runs on them to take the win 18-11. Double-A New Hampshire Season Record: 35-34 Series vs Somerset Patriots (New York Yankees) June 23: Tuesday saw New Hampshire kick off a series against the Somerset Patriots. Jackson Wentworth was on the mound and put up one of his best starts at Double-A. He pitched six innings, only allowed three hits, didn't give up a run, walked three, and struck out five. Victor Arias broke open a 0-0 game in the sixth inning with a long home run to right field, his sixth of the year at Double-A. In the eighth inning, it was Arias again, this time with a two-run double. Later in the inning, Nick Goodwin brought Arias home with a single to right field. New Hampshire won this one 4-0. June 24: In the Wednesday game between New Hampshire and Somerset, it was the Patriots who got out to an early lead in the second inning. Jackson Castillo brought in two runs on a line drive double to left field. In the bottom half of the inning, Nick Goodwin hit a deep fly ball off the right field wall, which he was able to turn into a triple, scoring a run for New Hampshire. Somerset went on a scoring run after that, though, scoring eight straight on an RBI double, two home runs, and an RBI single. Cutter Coffey singled on a fly ball to right field in the ninth inning to make it an eight-run game. New Hampshire only managed three hits and two runs in the game, as they lost this one 10-2. High-A Vancouver Season Record: 29-42 Series vs Hillsboro Hops (Arizona Diamondbacks) June 23: Nolan Perry had his second mediocre start in a row, as he allowed five hits and a walk in just three innings to allow three runs. Jack Eshelman also gave up three runs, but one of them was unearned due to a throwing error by him. Down six to nothing, the Canadians fought back, with Alexis Hernandez with his 10th homer of the season to get it within four. Peyton Williams added another homer in the seventh inning, but a fielding error from Kendry Chirinos led to an unearned run scoring for the second time this game. That run turned out to be the difference between a loss and extra innings, as Alexis Hernandez’s second homer of the game brought it within one as he drove in three runners in the eighth inning. Unfortunately for the Canadians, they couldn’t score in the ninth, which led to a loss caused by some shaky defense. June 24: Johnny King once again faced traffic in the first inning, allowing the first two runners to get on with singles. He was able to get a groundout to shortstop, but after Maddox Latta threw it to second to get the forceout, Eric Snow made an ill-advised throw that skipped past the first baseman and allowed a run to score. King once again settled in, going five strong innings, only allowing that one run in the first inning to score, to go with six strikeouts. Jack Nedrow replaced King in the sixth, and allowed two runs to score on a triple. He gave up another triple in the eighth inning, and the runner ended up scoring, which was three runs given up by the righty. The Canadians loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, and Sam Shaw was able to put Vancouver on the board with a bases-loaded walk. Alexis Hernandez battled back from a 0-2 count with an eight-pitch walk to score another run. Peyton Williams couldn’t keep it going as he struck out, ending the game. Single-A Dunedin Season Record: 32-36 Series vs Tampa Tarpons (New York Yankees) June 23: The Tarpons ruined Carson Messina’s strong start, as Messina pitched four no-hit innings, with a run scored only due to Lenyn Sosa making a fielding error in the second inning. The Jays' offense didn’t do Messina any favors either, as they scored their only run of the ballgame with Adam Hackenberg’s RBI single in the second. Denis Samudio replaced Messina in the fifth inning, and although he allowed two runs, he settled in, striking out five batters in less than four innings pitched. Ricky Tiedemann was supposed to pitch in relief, but was not able to due to neck soreness. Samudio ended up with the loss, as no one else was able to score despite the Jays out-hitting the Tarpons five to four. June 24: It was a tough day for Dunedin Pitching, as Blake Purnell and Bradley Wilson combined for seven runs given up in just the first five innings, with Purnell giving up three homers. It was a total shellacking as the Tarpons doubled the Jays' hit total with fifteen compared to just seven. JoJo Parker was one of the lone bright spots for the D-Jays as he hit a homer in the sixth for his eighth of the year and fifth of just this month. Luis Victorino allowed two more runs, and Blaine Bullard was able to get those back with a two-run double, but there was nothing else for the Jays. FCL Blue Jays Season Record: 27-11 June 23: The FCL Blue Jays and FCL Phillies squared off against each other on Tuesday. Seojun Moon was on the mound for the Blue Jays, and he had one of his best games. He finished with 3.2 innings, gave up three hits, one run, walked one, and struck out six batters. Austin Marozas came in for Moon and pitched 1.1 innings and didn't give up a hit or run. Sann Omosako was next, and he put up a hitless performance. He went three perfect innings and struck out three batters. Nosh Palmese finished off the game with one inning; he gave up one hit and struck out one batter. Offensively, the Blue Jays scored all five of their runs in the fourth inning. A bases-loaded walk scored one run, and then David Guzman crushed a grand slam. The Blue Jays only had two hits in the game, but they made them count, as they won this one 5-1. DSL Blue Jays Blue Season Record: 6-11 June 23: BJB was facing off against the Arizona Black team on Tuesday. Sebastian Casanova and Juan Caricote each had two singles, and each scored a run. Daret Gonzalez also had a single and scored a run. Gonzalez is someone to keep an eye on; he has just 22 at-bats for the season, but he does have one of the biggest bodies in the DSL, being listed at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds. He has the type of frame scouts dream of for a 17-year-old. He will need to start hitting, though; his single today was just his second hit of the short season. While the bats slept at the plate, the pitching surrendered 13 runs, en route to the 13-3 loss. DSL Blue Jays Red Season Record: 5-12 June 23: On Tuesday, BJR had a very forgettable game against the Arizona Red team in the DSL. Jose Gori had a single and Alex Linares drew a walk; that was it for the offense, just two baserunners for the entirety of the game. They would take the loss 1-0, in a game that neither team had more than two hits. Transactions 06/24/26 Dunedin Blue Jays activated CF Jean Joseph from the 7-day injured list. 06/23/26 Buffalo Bisons sent LHP Ricky Tiedemann on a rehab assignment to Dunedin Blue Jays. 06/23/26 Buffalo Bisons sent LF Ismael Munguia on a rehab assignment to Dunedin Blue Jays. 06/23/26 Toronto Blue Jays sent 2B Lenyn Sosa on a rehab assignment to Dunedin Blue Jays. 06/23/26 C Giaconino Lasaracina assigned to Dunedin Blue Jays from FCL Blue Jays. 06/23/26 C Juan Rosas assigned to FCL Blue Jays from Dunedin Blue Jays. View the full article

It blows my mind. Hendry Mendez still doesn't get enough recognition for just how good he actually is. When people talk about the Twins' farm system, the conversation usually starts with names like Walker Jenkins and Kaelen Culpepper. Those are tremendous prospects, and they deservedly get a lot of attention. But somehow, Mendez continues to fly under the radar, despite doing nothing but produce and thrive wherever he's sent. Since earning a promotion to Triple-A earlier this season, Mendez has been one of the most impressive hitters in the entire organization. Through his first 130 plate appearances with the St. Paul Saints, the 22-year-old is hitting .330 with an absurd .438 on-base percentage. He's added eight extra-base hits, three stolen bases, and more walks than strikeouts. That’s elite production at the highest level of the minors, and yet he’s not even mentioned as a potential Top-100 prospect. I think it's time that that changes. The ceiling outcome for Hendry Mendez isn't that he becomes a useful big leaguer or settles in as a complementary piece. However improbable it might feel, the ceiling outcome is that Mendez is simply a star for the Twins. For starters, it's important to remember just how young he is. Mendez is doing all of this at 22 years old. It would be one thing if he were a 26- or 27-year-old beating up on Triple-A pitching. There have been plenty of older players who put up gaudy numbers at that level. But most 22-year-olds aren't even in Triple-A yet, let alone hitting .330. Some regression is likely coming, but the underlying numbers still paint an extremely encouraging picture. His expected batting average sits at .291, which is lower than his actual mark but still highly impressive for a player his age facing advanced pitching. The biggest reason for that success is that Mendez is an incredibly disciplined hitter. He’s chasing just 19 percent of pitches outside the strike zone. That's an elite mark, and one that speaks volumes about his approach. Young hitters often get themselves into trouble by expanding the zone and helping pitchers out. Mendez does the exact opposite; he forces pitchers to come after him. And when they do, he makes them pay. He's currently sporting a 51% hard-hit rate, which is an outstanding number. The ball is coming off his bat with authority, and he's consistently making quality contact. The interesting part, however, is that it hasn't translated into as much extra-base damage as you might expect, and I think that's one of the reasons Mendez doesn't get talked about quite as much as some of the Twins' other top prospects. He doesn't have Emmanuel Rodriguez-type power. Mendez hit 11 home runs across 118 games last season. This year, he has eight homers through his first 52 games. Over a full 162-game season, that's roughly a 20-home run pace. For a corner outfielder, that's solid. But it's not necessarily the kind of power production that makes you stand out. Still, I think there's another level available here. Despite how hard Mendez is hitting the baseball, a significant portion of that contact is resulting in singles. The primary reason is that he hits a ton of ground balls. More than half of the balls Mendez puts in play—54%, to be precise—are hit on the ground. Ground balls can certainly find holes, especially for a hitter with his bat-to-ball skills, but they aren't typically the best path to unlocking power. It's difficult to drive the ball into the gap when you're pounding it into the dirt. And even when Mendez does elevate the baseball, he's not consistently hitting the type of fly balls that generate significant damage. His pulled fly-ball rate sits at just 5.5%. That's a notable number, because pulled fly balls are one of the easiest ways for hitters to create extra-base production. When players pull the ball in the air, that's where a large percentage of doubles and home runs come from. When you're not doing that very often, the power output naturally lags behind. To be perfectly clear, I don't think the Twins should try to completely overhaul Mendez's approach. The last thing anyone wants is to take a hitter who’s producing at a high level and start tinkering too much. His plate discipline is excellent, his contact quality is excellent, and his ability to control the strike zone is excellent. Those are traits worth preserving. But I do think there's room for some natural growth. Mendez is plenty strong enough to produce more power than he currently does. If he can turn some of those ground balls into line drives and fly balls, the extra-base production could take a significant step forward. It doesn't need to be a dramatic change. Even a modest increase in his launch angle could unlock another level offensively, which would say a lot considering where he’s already at. That's a really exciting possibility, which is why I firmly believe Mendez has the upside of a future star. Rodriguez and Jenkins receive most of the attention when discussing Twins outfield prospects, and for good reason--they're exceptional talents. But at the exact same level, Mendez has out-produced both of them so far this season. Whether that continues remains to be seen, but the performance deserves recognition. It's unclear when he'll make his major-league debut, or whether that opportunity comes later this season or sometime in 2027. The good news for Mendez is that he's already on the 40-man roster, meaning he won't have to clear another hurdle before getting his chance. He feels like the type of hitter who would hit the ground running the moment that opportunity arrives. His discipline is advanced, his approach is advanced, and he hits the ball hard. And because of those traits, whenever the time inevitably comes, Hendry Mendez has the ceiling of a star. View the full article

Chicago Cubs Transactions Chicago Cubs designated RHP Eduarniel Núñez for assignment. Chicago Cubs placed RHP Edward Cabrera on the 15-day injured list. Left hamstring strain. Chicago Cubs placed RHP Ben Brown on the 15-day injured list retroactive to June 21, 2026. Neck strain. Chicago Cubs designated RHP Christian Roa for assignment. Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Gavin Hollowell from Iowa Cubs. Chicago Cubs sent LHP Luis Peralta outright to Iowa Cubs. Chicago Cubs selected the contract of RHP Vince Velasquez from Iowa Cubs. Chicago Cubs claimed RHP Bryse Wilson off waivers from Philadelphia Phillies. Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Tyler Ferguson from Iowa Cubs. Iowa Plates 11 In The Fifth To Bury Buffalo The Iowa Cubs piled up 19 hits and 18 runs in a rout of the Buffalo Bisons. Kevin Alcántara led the way, going 4-for-5 with a grand slam, a double, and four runs batted in. Owen Miller added a home run, a double, and three RBI, James Triantos homered and drove in three, and Brett Bateman reached base four times with three runs scored. The decisive frame was the fifth, when Iowa sent a parade of hitters to the plate and scored 11 times. Owen Miller doubled home a run, Bateman singled in another, and back-to-back bases-loaded walks to Moisés Ballesteros and Jonathon Long pushed across two more. Alcántara then cleared the bases with his grand slam, and Triantos followed with a two-run homer to cap the outburst. Will Sanders started and worked five innings, allowing four hits and three runs, all earned, with three walks and four strikeouts. The bullpen had a rougher time, as Vince Reilly and Kenten Egbert combined to allow eight runs over the final three and a third innings, but the early cushion was more than enough. Player AB R H RBI BB K Brett Bateman 5 3 3 2 1 2 BJ Murray 4 2 3 0 1 1 Moisés Ballesteros 5 1 1 2 1 1 Jonathon Long 3 2 1 1 2 0 Kevin Alcántara 5 3 4 4 0 0 Owen Miller 4 2 3 3 1 0 James Triantos 4 2 3 3 0 1 Christian Bethancourt 3 1 0 0 2 0 Ben Cowles 4 2 1 1 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Will Sanders 5 4 3 3 3 4 1 Vince Reilly 1 2/3 3 4 4 3 0 2 Kenten Egbert 2 1/3 5 4 2 2 1 1 Rojas Homers Twice And Drives In Five To Pace Knoxville The Knoxville Smokies jumped on the Birmingham Barons early and held on for a 10-4 win. Jefferson Rojas was the catalyst, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and five runs batted in. Alex Ramírez chipped in three hits, and Andy Garriola added a home run and three RBI. Knoxville built its lead across the first three innings. Rojas opened the scoring with a solo homer in the first, and Ramírez doubled home another run that frame. In the second, Rojas struck again with a three-run blast that scored Hayden Cantrelle and Karson Simas, and Garriola's two-run homer in the third pushed the margin to 7-1. Nick Dean turned in the standout pitching performance, working five innings and allowing three hits and one run, with one walk and five strikeouts. Evan Taylor followed with two scoreless innings and four strikeouts to help close it out. Knoxville left 10 runners on base but did enough damage early to never trail. Player AB R H RBI BB K Karson Simas 5 1 0 0 1 2 Jefferson Rojas 5 2 3 5 1 1 Owen Ayers 4 2 2 0 1 1 Alex Ramírez 5 2 3 1 0 0 Andy Garriola 5 1 2 3 0 0 Edgar Alvarez 4 0 0 0 1 0 Carter Trice 4 0 2 0 1 0 Ariel Armas 4 0 0 0 1 2 Hayden Cantrelle 3 2 1 0 2 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Nick Dean 5 3 1 1 1 5 0 Yenrri Rojas 1 1 2 2 3 1 0 Evan Taylor 2 2 0 0 1 4 0 Kenyi Perez 1 2 1 1 1 2 0 Florentino And Hartshorn Lead South Bend Past Quad Cities The South Bend Cubs got a dominant start from Jostin Florentino and a big day from Josiah Hartshorn in an 8-1 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits. Hartshorn went 3-for-5 with a home run and three runs batted in, Ty Southisene added two hits and two runs scored, and leadoff man Kane Kepley reached base four times and scored three runs. South Bend struck immediately in the first, scoring three times. Hartshorn singled home Kepley, Matt Halbach reached on an error that brought in Southisene, and Jose Escobar's sacrifice fly scored Hartshorn. The lead held until the seventh, when Southisene and Escobar delivered run-scoring singles to extend the margin, and Hartshorn capped the night with a two-run homer in the eighth. Florentino set the tone on the mound, throwing four scoreless innings with one hit, two walks, and seven strikeouts. Brayden Spears followed with three and two-thirds innings, allowing one run while striking out six, and Ethan Bell recorded the final out. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley 2 3 0 0 2 0 Ty Southisene 4 2 2 1 1 0 Josiah Hartshorn 5 2 3 3 0 0 Matt Halbach 5 0 1 1 0 1 Angel Cepeda 4 0 2 0 1 1 Jose Escobar 3 0 1 2 1 1 Justin Stransky 3 0 0 0 1 0 Alex Madera 4 0 1 0 0 2 Christian Olivo 3 1 0 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jostin Florentino 4 1 0 0 2 7 0 Brayden Spears 3 2/3 3 1 1 0 6 0 Ethan Bell 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 Pelicans Rally Falls Short In One-Run Loss At Salem The Myrtle Beach Pelicans could not overcome an early deficit and dropped a 5-4 decision to the Salem Red Sox. Geuri Lubo led the offense, going 3-for-4, and Eli Lovich drove in two runs with a triple. The Pelicans dug themselves a hole behind starter Hayden Frank, who allowed six hits and five runs, all earned, with two home runs over three innings while striking out two. Myrtle Beach answered in the third, when Lovich tripled home Lubo and Alexis Hernandez to cut into the lead. Derniche Valdez doubled in a run in the sixth, and a sacrifice fly from Hernandez in the seventh brought the Pelicans within one. The bullpen kept them in it, as Jordan Henriquez and Sam Mettert combined for five scoreless innings out of relief, but the offense stranded six runners and could not push across the tying run. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexey Lumpuy 3 0 0 0 1 2 Alexis Hernandez 3 1 0 0 1 1 Eli Lovich 4 0 1 2 0 1 Logan Poteet 4 1 1 0 0 1 Michael Carico 4 0 1 0 0 2 Derniche Valdez 4 0 1 1 0 3 Yahil Melendez 4 0 1 0 0 2 Edward Vargas 0 0 0 0 0 0 Geuri Lubo 4 2 3 0 0 0 Darlyn De Leon 4 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Hayden Frank 3 6 5 5 1 2 2 Jordan Henriquez 3 2 0 0 0 2 0 Sam Mettert 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: 3-for-5, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Pedro Ramirez: DNP Kevin Alcántara: 4-for-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI Josiah Hartshorn: 3-for-5, HR, 3 RBI Ethan Conrad: DNP Kane Kepley: 0-for-2, 3 R, 2 BB Jonathon Long: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, 2 BB James Triantos: 3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, 1 K Cole Mathis: DNP Owen Ayers: 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K Brooks Caple: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Kaleb Wing: DNP Angel Cepeda: 2-for-4, 1 BB, 1 K Dominick Reid: DNP Jostin Florentino: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K Ty Southisene: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, 1 BB Will Sanders: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR Brandon Birdsell: DNP View the full article