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Both Ben Brown and Edward Cabrera landed on the injured list Wednesday. Brown (ironically, the one Cubs hurler not plagued by the home-run ball and vulnerable to whiplash this year) has a neck strain; Cabrera has injuries to both his hamstring and his adductor. Brown could be back relatively soon, but then again, it could be months. Cabrera is almost certainly out until after the All-Star break. Neither is officially being shelved with a broken back, but that sound you heard was this pair of straws breaking the Cubs'. Though they began Wednesday's doubleheader in playoff position, the Cubs aren't making it to October. That much should be obvious by now. They're too diminished and depleted by injury, and too few of the hurlers currently on the IL have clear paths to returning to form this year. Of the handful of pitchers who have stayed relatively healthy, too few have any upside beyond what they're already doing, and too many have had major flaws exposed or appear to be pitching through some nagging trouble of their own. This team can't win anything important. They'll have to turn their eyes to next year. The last sentence should send shrieking alarms into life in your mind, though. That's a catastrophe. That's an unmitigated and massive failure that will haunt this team for years to come. The 2026 Cubs were built to compete for a pennant, and certainly to wrest the NL Central back from the Milwaukee Brewers. That's not happening, and the organization is not nearly ready to thrive in the wake of this misfire. They have a weak farm system. They have a poor track record for player development, and they've ceased to be good even at keeping pitchers relatively healthy, a strength about which they boasted a few years ago. Technically, the team does have several trade candidates they can move before the trade deadline on August 3. Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, Carson Kelly and Shota Imanaga headline that group. If Jameson Taillon can get healthy or if Caleb Thielbar, Phil Maton, Jacob Webb or Michael Conforto can show enough to convince suitors of their utility, they could be dealt, too. For the most part, though, this team is ossified. They intentionally invested in and committed to a long-term core of Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Alex Bregman, Cade Horton, Justin Steele, Cabrera, and Daniel Palencia, with Matt Shaw, Moisés Ballesteros and Ben Brown as key supplementary pieces. Crow-Armstrong looks like the biggest star the Cubs have had since Sammy Sosa, and arguably the best all-around player they've ever had, at least while he's on this scintillating hot streak. The rest of that group, however, is proving either flawed or injury-prone, and because of what the club has already committed to each, they can't quickly shift gears and build around a different core, instead. They don't have the financial flexibility to do that via free agency; they don't have trade assets capable of bringing back that caliber of player; and they certainly don't have either the star power or the depth in their farm system to reload. In most articles like this one, this would be where I offer a creative solution or a radical possibility. I've done that a lot of times with a lot of different teams, over the years. I can't come up with anything this time. The Cubs have owners with only moderate interest in fielding a competitive team, who have hired and renewed their commitment to a front office with similarly tepid ambitions. That front office sells itself constantly to the media as a competent and nimble outfit, but the reality is that they're a below-average all-around team. They have above-average talent on the big-league roster, but only because they've concentrated almost all their resources there over the last three years. They've traded first-round picks, spent money to retain former first-round picks, and signed players to massive, long-term free-agent deals. They've swapped prospects for controllable players who could contribute immediately. They've done everything they can do to make themselves a winning major-league team right now, and 2026 was meant to be the high point in their competitive cycle. The results have been two 83-win teams, a 92-win one that lost the division and fell to their biggest rivals in October, and this unit, which will probably finish more like the 2023 and 2024 Cubs than like the 2025 ones. Meanwhile, the cupboard has been left bare in the minor leagues, and even the guys they hoped to convert into homegrown help have faltered badly. Jed Hoyer should never have gotten the extension he signed last July. That he did was the sign of an unearnedly content ownership group. The Cubs don't draft well, develop well, coach well or make smart enough transactions to make up for those glaring weaknesses. They don't have what they would need to turbo-charge a reload for next season, but this season is circling the drain, due as much to their lack of homegrown depth as to the bad injury luck they courted by leaning so hard on the likes of Horton and Cabrera. A decade after its greatest success, this franchise is right back where it's spent much more of the last 80 years: in a quagmire of its own making, and unlikely to rise from the muck any time soon. View the full article

Within the span of about 12 hours, the Chicago Cubs lost 40% of their starting rotation. The Cubs on Wednesday placed right-handed starters Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown on the 15-day injured list. Right-handed relievers Gavin Hollowell and Vince Velasquez were called up from Triple-A Iowa. Velasquez needed to be added to the 40-man roster, which is full, so right-hander Eduardniel Nunez was designated for assignment. Cabrera went on the IL after he strained his left adductor and left hamstring while stretching for a throw as he covered first base in Tuesday's 9-6 victory over the New York Mets. Brown's IL placement was due to a strained neck. They make it six Cubs starting pitchers on the IL, with left-hander Matthew Boyd set to come off Thursday. More testing was set for Wednesday to determine the extent of Cabrera's injury, which figures to be much more longer than Brown's. Brown is likely to just have a minimal IL stay. Cabrera, acquired in a big offseason trade with the Miami Marlins, is on the IL for the second time this season after missing the minimum with a blister on his right middle finger, having just returned June 5. Cabrera has a 5.07 FIP (5.10 ERA) with a 9.4% walk rate and 21% strikeout rate in 14 starts. Brown has stepped into the rotation following a myriad of injuries, making eight starts in his 20 appearances. He has a 2.50 FIP (1.85 ERA), walking 7.2% and striking out 24.5% of batters. Hollowell had just been sent down the day before as right-hander Jayden Murray was added to the roster following a trade. Velasquez made a triumphant return to the majors this season after last appearing in 2023. The recently turned 34-year-old pitched in just one game, going 2⅓ shutout innings, with one hit, no walks and one strikeout April 25 in a 12-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. View the full article

Minnesota Twins Executive Chair Tom Pohlad appeared on Shark Tank this week seeking $150 million in funding for a groundbreaking startup known as Competitive Payroll. The company, which Pohlad described as "an innovative new approach to running a Major League Baseball franchise," is seeking capital to fund a radical experiment involving paying talented players their market value. "For years, we've operated under the assumption that spending less money was the safest path forward," Pohlad told the panel. "But what if there was another way?" The Sharks appeared intrigued. "So what's the business?" asked Mark Cuban. "We own a baseball team. And we'd like to make it better." "How?" "We were hoping you could help us answer that." Pohlad then unveiled a 47-slide presentation titled: Can Spending Money Make Money?!? The first slide showed a graph illustrating payroll reductions over the past several seasons. The second showed additional payroll reductions to the rest of the organization. The third was simply a picture of a piggy bank. "Interesting," Cuban said. "But how does the business grow?" Pohlad clicked to the next slide. The title read: Potential Additional Cost Savings. Throughout the presentation, the Sharks repeatedly attempted to explain how baseball economics work. "You know, fans usually like it when teams keep their best players," said Barbara Corcoran. Pohlad nodded politely. "We've identified several opportunities to reduce travel expenses." "No," Corcoran replied. "I mean, fans spend money when they believe the team is trying to win." Pohlad quickly advanced to a pie chart labeled: “Areas Where We Could Potentially Spend Even Less.” Kevin O'Leary jumped in. "Let's say you spend more money on players," the shiny-domed entrepreneur said. "Then you win more games. Then attendance goes up. Then revenue goes up." The room became quiet. Pohlad studied the diagram. "We have not previously explored that sequence of events." At one point, Cuban attempted to simplify the discussion. "Tom, let's forget baseball. Imagine you own a restaurant." "Okay." "You serve great food." "Seems expensive." "Stay with me. People like the food, so more customers come." Pohlad looked confused. "Why would we want more customers?" The Sharks stared blankly. "Because they spend money." Pohlad immediately called for a brief recess. After returning, ownership unveiled what they called a revolutionary internal metric known as Cost Above Replacement, or CAR. The statistic measures how much money can be saved by replacing productive players with cheaper players. According to the Twins' projections, the organization could achieve record efficiency by eventually fielding a roster composed entirely of league-minimum salaries, waiver claims, and one veteran reliever acquired for cash considerations. Guest Shark Alex Rodriguez attempted one final time. "Winning creates excitement." Pohlad nodded. "Excitement creates attendance." "Interesting." "Attendance creates revenue." Pohlad began furiously taking notes. "Revenue can then be reinvested into the roster." The Twins executive paused. "You're saying the payroll is connected to the baseball team?" "Yes." "And the baseball team is connected to the fans?" "Also, yes." "Has Major League Baseball reviewed this theory?" Despite the educational session, all five Sharks ultimately declined to invest. "I still don't understand the business plan," Cuban said. "Neither do we," Pohlad replied. "That's why we're seeking strategic partners." As filming concluded, Pohlad remained optimistic. "We learned a lot today," he said. "Apparently, there may be a relationship between winning games and making money. We're planning to spend the next several years studying the concept." Sources confirmed the Twins immediately formed a committee to determine whether fans prefer victories over payroll flexibility. The committee is expected to issue its findings sometime in 2034. View the full article

The 2026 Red Sox looked like a playoff team on paper. However, the season has gone into the gutter while the team looks like the Puppy Bowl when playing on the field. The Red Sox have some key players who could be moved by the trade deadline. During this 2 part episode, we will look at Mickey Gasper, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Jarren Duran's chances of being traded. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins continued reshaping their pitching staff on Tuesday, announcing that right-hander Austin Voth has been designated for assignment while left-handed prospect Kendry Rojas was optioned back to Triple-A St. Paul. Taking their places on the active roster are left-hander Kody Funderburk and right-hander Marco Raya, who is set to make his major league debut. For Raya, the move represents the culmination of a development path that has been anything but conventional. Raya Finally Gets the Call Since selecting Raya out of a Texas high school in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft, the Twins have viewed him as one of the organization's most intriguing pitching prospects. His combination of athleticism, arm talent, and advanced feel for pitching allowed Minnesota to move him aggressively through the minor league system. At the same time, the organization carefully monitored his workload, often limiting innings while still challenging him with aggressive promotions. That balancing act pushed Raya to Triple-A at just 21 years old in 2024, but his development as a starter eventually stalled against more advanced competition. Rather than continue forcing the issue, Minnesota shifted Raya into a relief role last season. The transition has paid dividends. While his overall 2026 numbers don't immediately jump off the page, they don't tell the full story. Raya owns a 5.54 ERA and 1.26 WHIP at Triple-A St. Paul, but nearly all of that damage came during a disastrous April. Opposing hitters posted a 1.129 OPS against him during the season's opening month, and his ERA ballooned to 11.68. Since then, Raya has looked like a completely different pitcher. Over the last 28 days, the right-hander has posted a 1.64 ERA with a microscopic 0.64 WHIP across 11 innings. Perhaps most encouraging has been his command. Raya has struck out 11 hitters during that stretch without issuing a single walk. The Twins are clearly betting that version of Raya can help a bullpen that continues searching for reliable innings. Rojas Returns to St. Paul Rojas' stay in the majors was brief. The young left-hander started Monday night's game against the Dodgers and worked two innings before turning the game over to the bullpen. While the Twins remain high on the talented southpaw, the move back to Triple-A gives the Twins fresh arms for the bullpen. Given Minnesota's recent pitching injuries and constant roster shuffling, it would hardly be surprising to see Rojas back in Minneapolis before long. Voth's Twins Tenure Ends Quickly Voth's time with Minnesota lasted just one appearance and it was clear during last night’s game that the Twins were going to keep throwing him out there with the game already lost. After signing a minor league contract with the Twins late last month, the veteran right-hander earned a promotion to the major league roster earlier this week. He was immediately thrown into a difficult assignment against one of baseball's most dangerous lineups. Tasked with covering multiple innings after Rojas exited Monday's game, Voth surrendered five earned runs on 11 hits and a walk across four innings against the Dodgers. The outing pushed his season ERA even higher, but it doesn't fully reflect the veteran's recent track record. Voth entered 2026 with a career 4.70 ERA across 360 1/3 major league innings and was effective as recently as 2024, when he posted a 3.69 ERA in 61 innings for the Seattle Mariners. He also spent last season pitching for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, where he logged a respectable 3.96 ERA over 125 innings. Even this year, Voth pitched well at Triple-A between the Blue Jays and Twins organizations, compiling a 3.65 ERA across 11 starts before receiving another big league opportunity. Unfortunately for him, the results in the majors never followed. Between Toronto and Minnesota, Voth allowed 11 earned runs over just 10 major league innings in 2026. What Happens Next? The Twins now have seven days to resolve Voth's DFA. During that period they can attempt to trade him, place him on outright waivers, or release him. If Voth clears waivers, he has enough service time to reject an outright assignment and elect free agency. For Minnesota, however, the bigger story is Raya. After six years in the organization, a role change, and plenty of ups and downs along the way, one of the Twins' longest-tenured pitching prospects has finally arrived. Now comes the next challenge: proving he belongs. View the full article

As we hit the end of June, the San Diego Padres' rotation picture remains as clouded as ever. Michael King is entrenched at the top of the starting five. We know that much. Randy Vásquez continues to provide decent-enough volume to stick around as part of the group despite increasingly alarming peripherals. From there, it gets messy. Lucas Giolito is now on the injured list with JP Sears up to replace him. Germán Márquez is nearing the end of a rehab assignment before his 5.76 ERA can rejoin the group. Griffin Canning has struggled mightily with his command, while each of Nick Pivetta & Joe Musgrove remain out indefinitely. If you're keeping track, that's two certainties for five spots, three massive question marks in the middle, and three injured arms on the other end. The Padres had Wandy Peralta serve as an opener on Tuesday with Sears scheduled to take the ball on Wednesday. They'll have an off day before circling back to Vásquez to open their series with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. Which means that the most pressing question at this exact moment — how the team should handle Márquez & Canning upon the former's return — will get pushed to at least the weekend. It's difficult to imagine that the Padres would be comfortable running out both pitchers in their rotation given their respective struggles. While Giolito's absence does make it possible (as does Sears' ability to move to El Paso), each of Márquez and Canning have represented the starters with the largest hurdles to overcome in 2026. Prior to hitting the IL with a forearm injury, Márquez had made six starts for the Padres. He pitched to a 5.76 ERA, 6.64 FIP, a 14.8 percent strikeout rate, and a 9.4 percent walk rate. While his command fell within the neighborhood of "middling" from a walks perspective, his continually waning 94.3 MPH fastball velocity and precisely average (by Stuff+) knuckle-curve couldn't avoid hard contact; Márquez's 45.8 percent hard-hit rate sits in just the ninth percentile league-wide. Canning, meanwhile, has struggled with his command on the other side of the spectrum. His ERA sits at 7.38, largely due to the fact that he's walking more hitters than ever (13.7 percent). When hitters do swing, they're doing more damage than they were against Márquez in the hard-hit game, with Canning posting a 50.4 percent rate in that respect. He's had his moments, with a clean five-inning start against the New York Mets on June 6 and a 4.1 inning, one-run outing following an opener against St. Louis on June 17. The issue is that in between those kind of outings, he's had clunkers like a seven-run start on June 12 and a pair of six-run starts earlier in his Padres tenure. His second bulk outing saw him unable to finish even an inning and being credit for four runs before Kyle Hart cleaned up the bases he left loaded. Fresh as that particular outing may be, neither arm is one that's going to inspire much confidence. As such, determining which the Padres could go when Márquez is ready to return becomes a difficult task. In the case of Márquez, he's coming off four successful rehab outings with El Paso. He's thrown 15.1 innings, allowed three runs in total, and has his velocity up to 95.1 MPH. There's also more of an established track record (even if not terribly recently) to the point where the Padres may feel more comfortable rolling with him if they had to choose. Especially in the face of Canning's command woes. Even if the Friars wanted to get creative, something like piggybacking appears out of the question. Márquez has an 8.49 ERA his first time through the order while Canning features a 6.61 figure through the first pass. Given the inability to option either pitcher, it may be something they explore nevertheless, especially if they feel it can offer a bit more volume than they'd get from either arm on their own. Volume is, realistically, going to be the name of the game here. Neither pitcher is in a situation that offers Craig Stammen's squad legitimate upside, even if Márquez is showcasing improved velocity while out on rehab assignment. He has, though, given them 4.8 innings per start this year while Canning's down at 4.6 innings per start (excluding his bulk appearances out of the bullpen). If it's as simple as those two components, then perhaps the edge goes to Márquez. At the same time, maybe they feel as if Canning deserves a bit more runway himself in still working his way back to full strength from last year's Achilles injury. Tuesday's appearance could sap them of that patience, though. If this feels like stretching to make a case for one, that's the situation in which the Padres find themselves. It was always a volume approach to rounding out the rotation with the hope being that someone would latch onto a gig and run with it. That hasn't happened, to the point where the team likely is not going to be comfortable allowing each to retain their own spot even in the absence of three other starting pitchers. Given the development on Tuesday, it does feel like it'll be Márquez next time around, whether out of the gate or working in bulk. With such a shallow pool from which to choose, though, it's anybody's guess how this plays out over the remainder of the 2026 campaign. View the full article

Brooks Lee has taken a major step forward in 2026. The numbers suggest his future might be clearer from one side of the plate than the other. View the full article

The Blue Jays certainly have a type. On Saturday afternoon, the Blue Jays made a minor trade with the Diamondbacks to acquire infielder Luis Urias in exchange for cash considerations. The move on its own won’t generate a ton of headlines. He has bounced between organizations and is a career .231/.329/.378 hitter over eight big league seasons. Urias had an “upward mobility clause” in his contract, which forced the Diamondbacks to either promote him, release him, or trade him, and the Blue Jays pounced at the opportunity. The Blue Jays' bench has been heavily skewed toward left-handed hitters and outfielders, so the addition of a right-handed hitting infielder doesn't come as much of a surprise. What is surprising, however, is why they chose Urias. Urias has never established himself as a consistent, productive major league hitter. He has an OPS under .700 in each of his last three seasons. He’s in the bottom 20% in the league in sprint speed, and defensively, he’s been a negative in both Outs Above Average (OAA) and Defensive Runs Saved (DRS). Add it all up, and you can see why the Diamondbacks weren’t willing to give him a spot on their major league roster. The question now becomes, what do the Blue Jays see in Urias that the Diamondbacks don't? The answer may lie in the underlying data. More specifically, the Blue Jays may be betting on a set of underlying skills that look far better than Urias’ traditional numbers suggest. First, Urias made notable changes to his approach in the 2025 season with the Athletics. Prior to that point, he had been known as a patient (or sometimes even passive) hitter. He drew his fair share of walks (career 10.2 BB%), but the approach often came at the expense of impact contact. During that stretch, his line drive rate, average exit velocity, and wOBA all sat below league average. In 2025, however, Urias began making a different kind of contact. Urias’ swing rate stayed relatively inline with his career average, but the amount of contact he was making, particularly on pitches in the zone, skyrocketed. The 91.8% zone contact rate rose by 9.2% over the prior season and by over 7.3% on his career average. That zone contact rate was higher in 2025 than both Bo Bichette (91.7%) and Nathan Lukes (91.0%), who are both relatively well known for their ability to make contact on pitches in the zone. There’s more to hitting than simply making contact; some of the highest contact rate hitters in baseball typically have slower swings. Urias hasn't done that; in fact, he’s started making more contact while also swinging harder. It's a rare combination. The combination of elite zone-contact rates and increased bat speed was a major part of the Blue Jays' offensive identity during their 2025 World Series run. It's exactly the type of skill set the Blue Jays have shown a preference for. Making contact is important, but contact quality matters too. Urias has always been able to hit the ball in the air to the pull side, which adds another layer to his offensive profile. The league-average pull-air rate sits at 16.8%. Urias’ career mark is 19.8%. Hitting the ball in the air to the pull side matters, especially when you're not an exit velocity machine. This chart is from a FanGraphs article from 2023 about wOBA and hit direction based on exit velocity. Urias has never been great at producing elite exit velocity, so when he does get his bat on the ball, hitting the ball to the pull side is going to yield better results. Taken individually, none of these traits is enough to make Urias an impact player. Taken together, however, they paint a picture of the exact type of hitter Toronto has targeted in recent years: a player who controls the strike zone, makes frequent contact, and creates enough bat speed to do damage when he pulls the ball in the air. These are exactly the types of underlying skills teams often target because they tend to stabilise before traditional results do. Part of the reason the Blue Jays bought into Urias is that he’s been keeping up this production in Triple-A so far. On the season, he’s hitting .361/.393/.546. The .367 BAPIP is likely to come down due to regression and making the adjustment to major league pitching, but all of the adjustments he made in 2025 look to be sticking around so far. The zone contact rate is still at an outstanding 92.4%, and while we don’t have public data for bat speed in Triple-A, the 87.3 average EV is slightly higher than the 86.2 EV he had with the A’s in 2025, suggesting that the bat speed is holding firm. The underlying traits help explain why Toronto targeted Urias. Roster construction explains why they moved now. Team needs are a large part of this, too. The Diamondbacks middle infield is set with two all-stars, Ketel Marte and Geraldo Perdomo. There wasn’t much of an opportunity for him there, but on the Blue Jays, there was a real need. Down on the farm, the Blue Jays' middle infield options are lackluster. Top prospect Josh Kasevich has just a 94 wRC+ in Buffalo. Arjun Nimmala and JoJo Parker are still too far away to make an impact this season, and there are no other currently healthy middle infielders on the 40-man roster that could help the team. The Blue Jays aren’t asking Urias to save their offence. If they were, he wouldn’t have been available for cash in the first place. Instead, Toronto is betting on a collection of traits that it has consistently valued: elite zone contact, improving bat speed, and the ability to pull the ball in the air. Similar bets have produced mixed results, but the Blue Jays clearly believe Urias is worth the gamble. Whether Urias becomes the next success story remains to be seen, but if nothing else, his acquisition serves as another reminder that the Blue Jays clearly have a type and Urias fits it perfectly. View the full article

Boston Red Sox Affiliate Recap Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Season Record: 36-36 A tough offensive performance from Worcester led to a low-scoring 4-1 loss to the Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers). The WooSox dropped this one at home; they never had a lead and managed just six hits while only tallying one in the run column. Toledo's pitching staff allowed just one unearned run while striking out nine. The WooSox lone bright spot was Tsung-Che Cheng, who went 2-for-4 with a triple (Worcester's only extra-base hit) and scored the team's only run in the third, coming home on Jason Delay's RBI groundout to briefly tie it 1-1. After that, the bats went quiet: Romy Gonzalez (his first Triple-A rehab appearance of 2026), Vinny Capra, Allan Castro, and Kristian Campbell each chipped in a single, but the WooSox couldn't string anything together and never put another runner across, going 1-for-11 with RISP. On the mound, rehabbing starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval took the loss, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits over 3 ⅓ innings. The bullpen was mostly sharp; Zack Kelly, Seth Martinez, and Angel Bastardo combined for 4 ⅔ scoreless one-hit innings, but Noah Song struggled, surrendering a two-run sixth (two RBI singles) that broke the game open to 4-1. The story of the night: solid relief work wasted by a cold offense. Worcester struck out nine times and could not bring in runners in scoring position. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Season Record: 35-34 The Sea Dogs made a comeback but blew a lead late in the game, losing 7-5 to the Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies). A tough one for the Sea Dogs, who battled back from an early deficit to take a 5-4 lead in the seventh, only to watch the bullpen give it right back in a three-run bottom of the seventh. Portland out-hit Hartford 10-7, but couldn't close it out. Franklin Arias led the offense, going 3-for-5 with an RBI single in the second. Johanfran Garcia added a 2-for-5 night with a double while scoring twice, and Marvin Alcantara drove in two (an RBI groundout and a sac fly) while also scoring. The Sea Dogs clawed back from a 4-1 deficit, scoring runs in the fourth, fifth (twice), and seventh to briefly take a 5-4 lead. Alcantara's RBI groundout-double-play in the seventh brought in the go-ahead run. On the mound, Dalton Rogers ate five innings but gave up four runs in his start. The loss went to Caleb Bolden, who couldn't hold the lead. Hartford tied it on an RBI single and went ahead for good on a fielder's choice that scored the go-ahead run in the seventh. Patrick Halligan was outstanding from the bullpen: 1 ⅔ hitless innings with four strikeouts. Standout Performances: Franklin Arias: 3-for-5, RBI Johanfran Garcia: 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R Patrick Halligan: 1 ⅔ IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 4 K High-A Greenville Drive Season Record: 29-38 A dominant performance from Greenville’s pitching staff led to a 2-0 victory, sneaking past the Tourists (Houston Astros). The star of the game was starter Devin Futrell, who had a sensational performance. Futrell tossed six shutout innings with 12 strikeouts while allowing just two hits for the Drive. Including his last scoreless outing, he has thrown 13 straight innings without giving up a single run. Tyler Davis came out of the bullpen in the seventh and threw 1 ⅔ hitless frames (three K's), and Steven Brooks closed it out for his fifth save, locking down the final 1 ⅓ innings. Asheville never scored and managed just four hits all night against 16 combined strikeouts from the Greenville staff. The offense did just enough. Justin Gonzales put the Drive on the board in the third with an RBI single (reached base two times other times with two walks), and Luke Heyman provided the insurance with a solo homer (his fourth of the season) in the fourth. Antonio Anderson chipped in with a 2-for-3 night, while Ronny Hernandez doubled and scored on the Gonzales single. Standout Performances: Devin Futrell: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 12 K Tyler Davis: 1 ⅔ IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K Steven Brooks: 1 ⅓ IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K Justin Gonzales: 1-for-2, RBI, 2 BB Luke Heyman: 1-for-4, HR, R, RBI Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Season Record: 26-43 The RidgeYaks struggled on both sides of the ball at home, taking a 7-2 defeat to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Chicago Cubs). Salem managed just four hits total, one came from Skylar King, who homered (his eighth of the year) in the eighth, and Adonys Guzman recorded the other RBI with a sacrifice fly. Avinson Pinto was the only hitter for the RidgeYaks with a multi-hit game, putting up a 2-for-3 night. The lineup drew four walks but couldn't string anything together, striking out 10 times and not having much traffic on the basepaths to work with. On the mound, starter Barrett Morgan took his second loss of the season, giving up two runs over three innings. The bullpen couldn't stem the tide: Harry Blum was charged with three runs (one unearned), and Myrtle Beach kept adding on, including a two-run homer in the seventh that broke it open 6-1. Salem's staff issued six walks on the night, which kept the Pelicans' rallies alive. View the full article

Kala'i Rosario has spent the last two years in prospect limbo. The Minnesota Twins' fifth-round pick from the shortened 2020 draft once looked like one of the organization's fastest-rising hitters. After winning Midwest League MVP honors in 2023 and capturing the Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby title, Rosario appeared poised to climb into the upper tier of the system's prospect rankings. Instead, injuries, strikeouts, defensive concerns, and a pair of Rule 5 Draft snubs pushed him toward the background of Minnesota's prospect conversation. Now, after another season showcasing his biggest strength while adding a surprising new wrinkle to his game, Rosario may be forcing his way back onto the Twins' prospect map, especially after his recent promotion to Triple-A. The Power Has Never Left The easiest way to understand Rosario's appeal is to look at the power. Few hitters in the Twins' system consistently impact the baseball the way Rosario does. The right-handed slugger possesses plus bat speed, routinely drives balls to all fields, and has now topped 20 home runs in two of the last three seasons. After an injury-shortened 2024 campaign, Rosario bounced back by launching 25 home runs with a 131 wRC+ while playing 130 games at Double-A Wichita. He paired that production with a 12.6% walk rate, continuing a positive trend that has followed him throughout his professional career. The Twins have long believed the raw power could play at the major-league level. At this point, it's becoming increasingly difficult to argue otherwise. Even when Rosario has struggled, the power output has remained. His ability to drive the ball over the fence gives him a carrying tool that many prospects don't possess. A New Dimension to His Game Power wasn't the biggest surprise of Rosario's 2025 season. Speed was. Known primarily as a bat-first corner outfielder, Rosario arrived in better shape and became a much more aggressive runner last year. He stole 32 bases, doubling his previous career total and adding an element few expected to see from his game. So far in 2026, he has gone 9-for-12 on stolen base attempts. No one is going to confuse Rosario with a burner, but the willingness to improve his conditioning and maximize his athleticism shouldn't be overlooked. Players often become more one-dimensional as they climb the ladder. Rosario managed to broaden his skill set. That development may not erase concerns about the rest of his profile, but it does show a player willing to make adjustments and find ways to increase his value. More speed also means better range in the outfield, even if he'll never be a standout with the glove. Why He Keeps Getting Overlooked If Rosario's power is so intriguing, why wasn't he selected in the Rule 5 Draft? The answer is simple: the flaws remain significant. For every tape-measure home run, there is plenty of swing-and-miss. Rosario posted a 27.5% strikeout rate at Double-A last season, and that was a career-low mark. He continues to have difficulty against softer secondary offerings, and his career .251 minor-league batting average doesn't exactly scream future middle-of-the-order star. In 2026, his strikeout rate has risen back to over 30%, so it will be something to watch as he faces better pitchers at Triple-A. The defensive concerns are even more pronounced. While Rosario possesses a tremendous throwing arm, his routes and instincts in the outfield remain works in progress. Evaluators have questioned his ability to track balls consistently, and defense has long been the biggest obstacle standing between Rosario and a clearer major-league path. To his credit, there were signs of improvement. Some of the rough edges appeared less severe than in previous seasons. Still, Rosario is unlikely to ever become a plus defender. The question is whether he can become good enough for the bat to carry the profile. Double-A Learning Curve One reason Rosario may be getting undervalued is that his statistical line doesn't fully reflect the difficulty of his assignment. After dominating High-A Cedar Rapids in 2023, Rosario jumped to Double-A as a 21-year-old. Nearly all of his plate appearances came against older and more experienced pitchers. He’s managed to improve his offensive numbers while playing parts of the last three seasons at Double-A. Rosario posted a .726 OPS in 2024, improved to an .844 OPS in 2025, and held steady with an .839 OPS this season. Even after going back to Double-A, he is over a year younger than the average age of the competition in the Texas League and was facing older pitchers nearly 60% of the time. That performance may not have generated headlines, but it demonstrated that his power could survive against better pitching. When teams challenge young players with advanced affiliate assignments, there are sometimes growing pains. That can bring their stock down, but sometimes, the player just needs more time to take advantage of the situation they're in than if they'd been brought along more slowly. Back on the Radar Rosario isn't a perfect prospect. In fact, he might be one of the most polarizing players in Minnesota's farm system. The strengths are tantalizing, while the weaknesses remain difficult to ignore. The power is legitimate. The walk rates are encouraging. The improved athleticism and stolen-base totals suggest there may be more to the profile than previously believed. At the same time, the strikeouts and defensive limitations continue to create questions about whether he can become an everyday major leaguer. That's why Rosario remains far from consideration for many national prospect lists and why the Twins felt comfortable leaving him unprotected in consecutive Rule 5 Drafts. But prospect development is rarely linear. Players fall off the radar and work their way back all the time. Rosario may never become one of Minnesota's elite prospects again, but after another season showcasing legitimate power and surprising athletic growth, he's giving the organization a reason to keep watching closely. For a player who seemed to be fading from the conversation, that's a significant step forward. What stands out about Rosario's season? Can he work his way back into Minnesota's long-term plans? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Syracuse rallied late to beat Lehigh Valley 9-6 behind Tyrone Taylor's three hits and home run, with Ronny Mauricio driving in three. Brooklyn won a 10-inning thriller 8-7 as Daiverson Gutierrez singled home the winning run, and JT Benson homered among three hits. St. Lucie cruised 6-2 as Emilio Obispo fired four scoreless innings and Julio Zayas collected four hits and three RBIs. Binghamton fell 10-2, undone by four home runs allowed. Mets Transactions New York Mets claimed CF Jared Oliva off waivers from San Francisco Giants. New York Mets optioned CF Jared Oliva to Syracuse Mets. Syracuse Bats Wake Up Late To Knock Off Lehigh Valley The Syracuse Mets scored in six different innings to beat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 9-6. Tyrone Taylor led the offense, going 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, and two RBIs, while Ronny Mauricio added two hits and three RBIs. Nick Morabito reached base three times, scored twice, and stole two bases, and Francisco Lindor chipped in two hits. The game turned in the middle innings. Syracuse took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on a Ryan Clifford RBI single and a Jihwan Bae sacrifice fly, but the lead did not last. In the bottom of the fourth, Lehigh Valley answered with four runs, all coming on a grand slam, to lead 4-2. Syracuse clawed back with single runs in the fifth and sixth on sacrifice flies from Mauricio and a Hayden Senger groundout. The decisive blow came in the seventh, when Taylor hit a two-run home run to put Syracuse ahead 6-5. They added two more in the eighth on a Mauricio single and one in the ninth. Jack Wenninger struggled across 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four, including the grand slam. The bullpen was strong, as Jefry Yan struck out five over 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and Guillo Zuñiga and Dylan Ross combined for more scoreless work. Player AB R H RBI BB K Francisco Lindor, SS 5 2 2 0 0 0 Grae Kessinger, SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tyrone Taylor, CF 5 3 3 2 0 2 Cristian Pache, CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ronny Mauricio, 3B 4 1 2 3 0 1 Ryan Clifford, 1B 4 0 1 1 1 2 Nick Morabito, RF 4 2 2 0 1 2 Ji Hwan Bae, LF 2 0 1 1 2 1 Kevin Parada, C 4 0 0 0 1 2 Hayden Senger, DH 5 0 0 1 0 2 Vidal Bruján, 2B 3 1 0 0 2 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Joey Gerber 2/3 2 1 1 0 1 0 Jack Wenninger 3 2/3 5 4 4 3 4 1 Jefry Yan 1 2/3 0 0 0 0 5 0 Guillo Zuñiga 1 1/3 0 0 0 1 1 0 Dylan Ross 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 Dan Hammer 2/3 1 1 1 2 0 0 Home Runs Sink Binghamton In Erie The Binghamton Rumble Ponies were overwhelmed by the long ball in a 10-2 loss to the Erie SeaWolves. Jose Ramos and Nick Lorusso each homered, accounting for both Binghamton runs, while Matt Rudick and Wyatt Young added doubles. The offense managed just five hits and struck out 12 times as a team. The game broke open in the fourth inning. After Lorusso's leadoff home run in the first gave Binghamton a 1-0 lead, Erie erupted for six runs in the bottom of the fourth, all of them on home runs. The SeaWolves added another run in the fifth, two more in the seventh, and one in the eighth to pull away. Ramos provided Binghamton's only other offense with a solo home run in the sixth. Bryce Conley shouldered the bulk of the work and absorbed heavy damage, allowing seven runs, all earned, on eight hits over five innings with no walks and four strikeouts. He surrendered four home runs. Out of the bullpen, Brian Metoyer gave up two runs while recording two outs, and Danis Correa tossed a scoreless inning with a strikeout. Player AB R H RBI BB K Chris Suero, C 4 0 0 0 0 4 Jose Ramos, CF 4 1 1 1 0 3 Nick Lorusso, 3B 4 1 1 1 0 0 JT Schwartz, 1B 3 0 0 0 1 1 Vincent Perozo, DH 4 0 0 0 0 1 Matt Rudick, RF 4 0 1 0 0 1 Wyatt Young, SS 4 0 1 0 0 1 Kevin Villavicencio, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 1 Nick Lucky, LF 3 0 1 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Justin Armbruester 1 1/3 2 1 1 0 1 0 Danis Correa 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Brian Metoyer 2/3 1 2 2 3 2 0 Bryce Conley 5 8 7 7 0 4 4 Brooklyn Walks Off Jersey Shore In The Tenth The Brooklyn Cyclones outlasted the Jersey Shore BlueClaws 8-7 in 10 innings on a walk-off single. JT Benson led the way, going 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, and a home run. John Bay added a hit, scored three times, and drove in a run, while Corey Collins collected two hits and two RBIs. Daiverson Gutierrez finished with two hits, including the game-winner. Brooklyn built an early 2-0 lead on RBI singles from Yonatan Henriquez and Colin Houck, and Benson's solo home run made it 3-2 in the fourth. The fifth inning was the turning point. Jersey Shore plated five runs in the top half, aided by two Brooklyn errors, to take a 7-3 lead. Brooklyn answered immediately in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs on a John Bay RBI double and a Corey Collins two-run single to close within 7-6. Sam Biller tied the game at 7-7 with an RBI single in the eighth. In the 10th, with zombie runner John Bay aboard, Gutierrez singled him home for the win. Nicolas Carreno had a rough outing, allowing five runs, all earned, on five hits and three walks over four innings while striking out five and giving up a home run. The bullpen stabilized things, as Robert Stock struck out four over two scoreless innings, and Hoss Brewer closed with two scoreless frames and four strikeouts. Player AB R H RBI BB K Mitch Voit, SS 4 2 1 0 1 0 Ronald Hernandez, DH 5 1 1 0 0 2 Yonatan Henriquez, 2B 5 0 2 1 0 2 John Bay, CF 5 2 1 1 0 0 Daiverson Gutierrez, C 5 1 2 1 0 2 Corey Collins, 1B 4 0 2 2 0 0 Colin Houck, 3B 4 0 1 1 0 3 JT Benson, RF 4 2 3 1 0 0 Jamari Baylor, 2B 1 0 0 0 1 0 Sam Biller, LF 2 0 1 1 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Robert Stock 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 Nicolas Carreno 4 5 5 5 3 5 1 Parker Carlson 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 Hunter Hodges 1 1 2 1 1 1 0 Hoss Brewer 2 1 0 0 1 4 0 St. Lucie Steals All The Bases The St. Lucie Mets beat the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 6-2 behind a solid offensive effort and strong pitching. Julio Zayas was the standout, going 4-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. Antonio Jimenez reached base three times, scored twice, and drove in a run, while Trey Snyder added two hits, two runs, and three stolen bases. The team swiped nine bases in all. St. Lucie scored early and often, plating a run in the first on Zayas's RBI double and another in the third when Jimenez walked and later scored. They extended the lead in the fifth on a Jimenez RBI single. The big inning was the seventh, when Zayas delivered a two-run single to score Snyder and Jimenez, pushing the lead to 6-1. Emilio Obispo turned in a scoreless outing, allowing no runs on three hits over four innings, but walking five and striking out three. Ernesto Mercedes was sharp as well, striking out four over two scoreless innings, and Zack Mack finished with two innings, allowing one unearned run. Player AB R H RBI BB K Elian Peña, SS 4 1 0 0 1 0 Trey Snyder, CF 5 2 2 0 0 1 Antonio Jimenez, 3B 3 2 1 1 2 0 Julio Zayas, DH 5 0 4 3 0 0 Branny De Oleo, LF 4 0 0 0 1 3 Simon Juan, RF 5 0 1 0 0 1 Jeremy Rodriguez, 2B 4 1 1 0 0 0 Francisco Toledo, C 4 0 1 0 0 0 Jack Scanlon, 1B 3 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Miguel Mejias 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 Ernesto Mercedes 2 1 0 0 2 4 0 Emilio Obispo 4 3 0 0 5 3 0 Zack Mack 2 1 1 0 1 1 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Carson Benge: DNP A.J. Ewing: DNP Jonah Tong: DNP Elian Pena: 0-for-4, BB, R, SB Jack Wenninger: 3 2/3 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, HR Ryan Clifford: 1-for-4, RBI, BB, 2 K Jacob Reimer: DNP Nick Morabito: 2-for-4, BB, 2 K, 2 R, 2 SB Mitch Voit: 1-for-4, BB, 2 R, SB Jonathan Santucci: DNP Chris Suero: 0-for-4, 4 K Zach Thornton: DNP Wandy Asigen: DNP Will Watson: DNP Eli Serrano III: DNP Randy Guzman: DNP Ryan Lambert: DNP Dylan Ross: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR Antonio Jimenez: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 BB, 2 R, SB R.J. Gordon: DNP View the full article

Mother Nature and the Chicago Cubs seem to think otherwise, but we are in the midst of summer. The Fourth of July is around the corner and the Cubs currently sit at 41-37, 7.5 games out of first in the NL Central. They're tied with the Padres for the final Wild Card spot, narrowly behind the Cardinals and Phillies for the top two berths and barely ahead of the Nationals and Marlins. The early season juggernaut has been crippled by pitching injuries and extended slumps from their offensive stars not named Pete Crow-Armstrong. The good news is that Matthew Boyd is nearly ready to go again, and that Crow-Armstrong leads baseball (non-Ohtani division) in wins above replacement. The bad news is that Edward Cabrera went down with a bad hamstring strain on Tuesday night in Queens, and could be lost for quite a while. More bad news is that the Cubs’ next three matchups after this tussle with the Mets are against Milwaukee, San Diego and St. Louis. The time to gain some ground was earlier this month, but they could barely tread water, going 6-6 against Colorado and San Francisco. Technically, facing these three teams is an opportunity to make up for lost time. Non-technically, the team is only now sloshing back into form, and the pitching staff feels way too thin to get them through such a crucial stretch right on the heels of playing four games in three days in New York. The Cubs offense looked great over the weekend at home against the Blue Jays. We hope this is a turning point and they can start mashing themselves into frequent wins again, but their struggles of late have gotten the rumor mill turning. One player often mentioned is right fielder and designated hitter Seiya Suzuki, who's in the last year of his contract and is slashing .269/.348/.445, with 10 homers and 1.7 fWAR. If the Cubs do decide to trade him in either a move to re-tool for next season, or a creative trade to acquire pitching for this season, he would be one of the top right-handed bats on the market. The Cubs, hopefully, will be in a position where they can demand a decent return, but he won't fetch any top-tier prospects. Here are five teams who would make solid trade partners if the Cubs do decide to explore a deal. Padres Another early season powerhouse who has fallen back to earth after a terrific April, the Padres have not been getting the results they're paying for from their star players. Xander Bogaerts has a .659 OPS, Jackson Merrill’s is .631, Fernando Tatis Jr. only has two home runs, and Manny Machado has 14 bombs but is hitting only .185. Tatis has been filling in at second base for the injured Jake Cronenworth, leaving two revolving doors in the outfield next to Merrill, because Ramón Laureano is on the 60-day IL. The Padres are currently playing Jase Bowen and Samad Taylor nearly every day. [Editor's note: I had to check, too, but no, he's not making up Jase Bowen. That's a real person.] While Taylor has hit well, Lord (not Brad) knows how sustainable that is. Although Suzuki has gone through his own struggles this season, his arrival would immediately take some pressure off their underperforming stars and provide some much-needed right-handed pop. As for a return, the Cubs should not be asking for teenagers or low-level lottery ticket guys. Anything they get for Suzuki should help them in the very near term. The problem is that the Padres’ top prospect list is littered with players in the low minors. An interesting name is right-handed reliever Garrett Hawkins, who has a mid-90s fastball with significant movement. He's still working on developing a consistent secondary pitch. He will issue walks but profiles as a big-league reliever, should he continue to make adjustments. The Padres might also be willing to part with a reliever on their big-league roster in order to help out the offense. The 22-year-old Bradgley Rodriguez is a high-upside, controllable piece, although that might make him the toughest to acquire. Adrian Morejon or Ron Marinaccio are both having good, but not great, seasons and could be a target for the Cubs, as well. Trading Suzuki for nothing but relief help would hit like a jab to the ribs, but since the Cubs have failed to develop their own pipeline of talented arms, they're going to have to overpay for some, one way or another. Phillies As is true with the Padres, the Cubs may be hesitant to move Suzuki to a team they hope to be directly competing with in the Wild Card race, but what if the team that sits dead last in outfielder fWAR makes them an offer they can’t refuse? The Phillies acquired reserve outfielder Derek Hill from the White Sox last week, which shows their desperation to find any workable solution. Adolis Garcóa is now on the 60-day IL, which leaves them with rookie Justin Crawford, who has been disappointing. Luckily, Brandon Marsh is having the best season of his career with 10 homers and an .833 OPS, but their lefty-heavy lineup needs some support from the right side. Could the Cubs ask for an outfielder in return? Gabriel Rincones Jr. is currently on the Phillies’ major-league roster, but is 1-19 and would benefit from more time in the minors. The Cubs have enough outfield depth options to afford to send Rincones back to the minors even after a Suzuki trade; Matt Shaw would take over in right. If the 25-year-old is able to tap into his raw power consistently, he could become a 30+ home run threat. That's not that likely, given how slowly he's developed, but he could be one piece in a deal. The closer for the Double-A Reading Phillies, Alex McFarlane, has a 2.08 ERA across 26 innings and has a fastball-slider combo that can play in the big leagues this season. Young righty Moisés Chace is another interesting option. He is recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he has a full arsenal of effective pitches. His mid-90s fastball, combined with a sweeper, changeup, and cutter, give Chace a reliever floor with potential starter upside. He could break into the big leagues next season. Yankees A decade after the Cubs and Yankees pulled off the biggest blockbuster of 2016, could they be in a position to do it again this season? Well, not exactly. A Suzuki trade would not be considered a blockbuster, but the Yankees are in need of outfield help with Aaron Judge down for a significant portion of the summer. With Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham joining Judge on the IL, Cody Bellinger is sharing outfield duties with Jasson Dominguez and sub-.700 OPS, light-hitting utility player Max Schuemann, and extremely flawed, (technically) extremely talented quasi-prospect Spencer Jones. The Yankees are another team whose lineup leans very left-handed, especially while missing Judge and Stanton. The 38-year-old Paul Goldschmidt is playing like an All-Star again, but only in a very limited role. He is nearly the entirety of the team’s right-handed production. The Yankees’ farm system is littered with pitching, even if Elmer Rodriguez and Carlos Lagrange are off the table. Their 2024 first rounder, Ben Hess, could be an intriguing name for the Cubs to target. The burly 6-foot-5 righthander has drawn comparisons to Lance Lynn, but control issues have kept him from reaching his full potential. He has issued 16 walks in 21 2/3 innings in Double-A this season. With Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Max Fried under large contracts, Cam Schlittler emerging as one of the top arms in the game, and guys like Will Warren and Ryan Weathers in the fold, the Yankees may not see a path to the majors for Hess. One last name to think of here is 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil. Since winning the award, he has dealt with ineffectiveness and injuries, making him a great change of scenery candidate. Guardians Now that their lineup is missing all three of José Ramírez, Chase DeLauter, and Angel Martínez, it's safe to say they have the worst lineup in baseball. Even when they were healthy, their offense really wasn't anything for opposing pitchers to worry about. They are 23rd in wRC+, 25th in home runs, and 26th in runs scored. Rookie Travis Bazzana is doing all he can, as he is now the default best hitter on the team, but the punch is basically nonexistent. Steven Kwan is in the worst slump of his career, which began last season, and the right-handed power bat is the ghost of Rhys Hoskins. With all due respect to David Fry, Petey Halpin and Stuart Fairchild, they need another competent hitter in the outfield if they want to gain any significant ground on the White Sox and the suddenly surging Tigers. Traditionally, the Guardians’ pitching is what carries them through the season until their inevitable October demise, but if they are serious about making noise in the playoffs, they need a right-handed bat. With the bullpen being a big strength of this team, anchored by closer Cade Smith, they may be willing to part with a reliever on the major-league roster as well as a mid-range prospect. Veteran righties Colin Holderman and Shawn Armstrong are having strong seasons, as is lefty Erik Sabrowski. It would be fair for the Cubs to ask for one of these guys in return, but if they want to add another outfielder, they can target 21-year-old Jaison Chourio, the younger brother of Jackson. He had a down year in 2025 which caused him to drop off the back end of top-100 prospect lists, but he has a .942 OPS with Double-A Arkansas this season and should be worthy of a major-league look sometime in 2027. This is the kind of player the Guardians usually hate to move, but with the number of suitors for Suzuki, the Cubs can afford to force Cleveland to pay up. Blue Jays The Blue Jays have a nice little outfield of Nathan Lukes, Jesús Sánchez, and Daulton Varsho, but the nearly 37-year-old George Springer is probably best left as a platoon player, rather than the primary DH for a team trying to defend the AL title—even if he is second on the team in home runs, with eight. The Yankees and Rays are both legit contenders, so the Blue Jays can’t afford to sit around and hope Vladimir Guerrero Jr. starts to hit with power again. They have also been without a healthy Addison Barger for most of the season, so rookie Yohendrick Piñango (old friend alert!) had been a major piece of their roster before he was optioned this week. He was hitting .283 with a .764 OPS, good enough to be a table setter, but would hardly scare a pitching staff in the postseason. The Blue Jays wouldn’t be in this conversation if Anthony Santander, who signed a five-year deal before last season, was dependable. There are reports that he is working his way back, but he was awful in the 54 games he played last season, slashing .175/.271/.294. The point is, it would make the most sense for Toronto to be aggressive as anyone in a Suzuki pursuit. The Blue Jays have a strong farm system that is loaded with high-upside arms like Johnny King, Ricky Tiedemann, and Gage Stanifer, but with an aging rotation at the big-league level, they might not feel inclined to trade from that bunch. However, they have a 25-year-old righty named Jake Bloss who touches the high 90s on his fastball and boasts a curveball/slider combo that could work great in a bullpen role. He is currently recovering from elbow surgery, but is expected to be back this season. Depending on the handedness the Cubs are looking for, lefty Mason Fluharty and righty Spencer Miles have FIPs under 3.40 and come with years of team control, so either one of them could be a fair ask, along with Bloss. If they’re looking for a throw-in player with some upside and positional versatility, Charles McAdoo was also just sent down. He can play first, third, and the corner outfield spots and can turn into a nice right-handed bench bat or even a starting option in right. View the full article

Jake Bauers has been a potent force all season in the Brewers lineup, almost single-handedly carrying them through the first month of the season. His 139 wRC+ estimates his offensive production to be 39% better than a league-average hitter, and he currently leads the Brewers in home runs. It's tough to be disappointed in those numbers, but the Brewers have seen that production dip in June as pitchers have changed their approach to Bauers. If we isolate him to the last two weeks of games (which include two games in Las Vegas), Bauers has slashed just .161/.297/.258, with a 40.5% strikeout rate. Now, every hitter goes through some peaks and troughs, but there are some areas in which Bauers needs to adjust to how he's being attacked. The first thing we can see clearly is that pitchers are pitching around him more often. The volume of pitches inside the strike zone that he's faced has decreased dramatically in June, and that shouldn't be a surprise. Teams are well aware of his threat in a lineup starved of consistent power, and they're not letting Bauers be the one to beat them. Below is the month-by-month percentage of pitches faced by Bauers inside the strike zone across all counts: He dropped from 55.8% of fastballs in May landing inside the zone to a mere 47.2% of them so far in June, with similar reductions in zone rate for breaking stuff. Bauers has been crushing fastballs this season to the tune of a .314 batting average and .579 slugging percentage, so it's no surprise that pitchers are trying to keep these away from the danger zone. The reduced production over the last two weeks isn't because he's chasing these fastballs, however. in fact, it's quite the opposite, Bauers has become too passive, trying to balance doing damage with avoiding the chase rates that can cause him to swing and miss excessively. If we compare Bauers's performance in June to date against his April/May form, there are some glaring differences: The in-zone swing rate is the lowest in baseball over this time, and that's the opposite of what you want from a player you're relying on to contribute some raw slugging numbers. He's taking a lot of pitches. He isn't chasing, and he's getting on base via the walk at an astonishing clip. He's also still showing remarkable quality of contact numbers. It's just that he doesn't seem to be targeting that contact all too often this month, going a little into his shell. The other thing pitchers are doing a great job of is preventing Bauers from pulling the ball in the air. While he doesn't need that air pull to clear the fences with regularity, and his willingness to drive the ball to the opposite field has been a growth point this season, it's still the primary source of his power. Even bat speed superfreaks find most of their extra-base hits on the pull side. That being said, for Bauers, it's still about striking a balance with his approach at the plate. It's when he uncorks a swing that might need a little more nuance. For example, pitchers are throwing him just 37.5% of pitches inside the strike zone when he gets into a three-ball count. They're not concerned with walking him, and he knows it. However, they're not as concerned with throwing such strikes early in the count, throwing 55% of pitches inside the zone in 0-0 counts, more than they did in May. They're gambling that Bauers, like all Brewers hitters, will be in auto-take mode in a 3-0 count, and that he'll be pretty passive at the front end of the at-bat, too. So Bauers has some leverage in counts with no strikes, and he's getting pitches to hit. Deeper into the at-bat, they're just avoiding the zone at all costs. The problem is, the Brewers slugger is currently swinging more often in deeper counts than he is early, so he's missing his opportunity on those pitches that are there to hit. I'm not suggesting Bauers should swing out of his shoes in every hitter's count, but he's shown enough consistent thump this year that his approach can be centered around more than a prayer to be walked. Bauers is enough of a threat that he's no longer getting pitches to hit in the counts he's previously targeted. It might be that he now has to search elsewhere for those pitches, and be more aggressive early in the at-bat. That, or the Brewers need to engineer some lineup support around him to scare teams off putting a runner on base for free. Either way, it will be fascinating to see how Bauers adjusts to how teams are approaching him. View the full article

There's a lot of talk right now about what the Twins should—or shouldn't—do at this summer's trade deadline. Of course, last summer's fire sale left a sour taste in the mouths of Twins fans. Watching the front office move multiple veterans while the team drifted out of contention wasn't exactly fun, and it's understandable why many fans would prefer to avoid a repeat of that experience. The reality, though, is that another selling deadline is more likely than any other path. The Twins currently sit five games below .500 and own a 19-27 record against teams with winning records. There's still time to climb back into the race, but the margin for error is shrinking, and this team hasn't consistently shown that it's capable of beating quality opponents. Even if they don't become full-on sellers, it's very clear that moves have to be made. I think the easiest move to make this summer is trading Trevor Larnach. Moving Larnach makes sense for several reasons. The first is that he's in the middle of the best season of his major-league career. Entering Tuesday night’s game, Larnach is hitting .280/.377/.425. Both the batting average and the on-base percentage would be new career highs. While the power output hasn't quite lined up with previous years, there's still plenty to like about what he's done offensively. His strikeout rate is notably lower than it has been in previous years. He's controlling the strike zone better than ever, by sitting on fastballs and making sure he's on time when they come. Larnach is playing really good baseball, and that's part of why the Twins should consider trading him. It's important to acknowledge that he’s 29 years old. He's very much in the prime of his career right now, and if the Twins aren't a truly competitive team, that's not necessarily the type of player profile that makes the most sense to keep around. If the organization believes they can earn a Wild Card spot or even win the AL Central, then you're not trading Larnach, and essentially everything I say from here on out can be disregarded. But if the Twins are still trying to figure out what the next great team looks like, then maximizing the value of players in their prime should be a priority. There's also the contract aspect. Larnach has one more year of arbitration eligibility remaining before he reaches free agency. That means the Twins still have some team control left, which increases his value on the trade market. If they were to wait beyond this summer, they'd be dealing with a player entering a contract year. Naturally, that's going to reduce the return compared to what they could get now. For someone who's currently having the best season of his career, this may very well be the moment when his value is at its highest. Then there's the roster construction side of things. If the Twins did decide to trade Larnach, there would be no shortage of candidates to step up in his absence. Emmanuel Rodriguez has been on the minds of Twins fans for months. He's currently working his way back from injury, but assuming he's healthy later this summer, there's a very good chance he gets an opportunity to see major-league action. Left field would be one of the easiest pathways to getting his bat into the lineup. Alan Roden recently returned from his own injured list stint and has been red-hot at Triple-A. At one point during spring training, it looked like he had a legitimate chance to earn an Opening Day roster spot before ultimately falling short. He's done nothing but continue hitting since then; it feels like he's earned an opportunity. You also have Walker Jenkins, the organization's top prospect, waiting in the wings. Jenkins could easily force his way into the conversation before the season is over, and frankly, it would be nice to see him do so. Staying on the field will be the biggest obstacle, but health permitting, he should earn an opportunity. Hendry Mendez is another intriguing option. While he doesn't receive quite as much attention as Rodriguez or Jenkins, he's continued to put himself on the radar and could make his major-league debut during the second half. And let's not forget about Matt Wallner. Wallner's name has surfaced in trade conversations as well, but as things currently stand, he's still on the 40-man roster and remains another option. He certainly has less trade value than Larnach right now, and there's more team control remaining, so of the two, it makes more sense to move Larnach if the team is in sell mode this summer. That's five names that could immediately become part of the equation if the Twins decide to move on from Larnach. Even during a career year, he simply isn't producing at a level that makes him completely irreplaceable. He's a good player, but he's also playing a position where the Twins have an abundance of young talent waiting for opportunities. They can barely find playing time for all the outfielders they have in St. Paul, especially after the promotion of Kala'i Rosario. They need to ease the logjam somehow, at some point. In a different set of circumstances, the Twins might be looking at that group and discussing which prospect could be moved to acquire immediate help for a playoff run. But with the team sitting below .500, the more logical approach may be creating opportunities for those players, rather than blocking them. Keeping Larnach around while simultaneously trying to find at-bats for Rodriguez, Jenkins, Mendez, and Roden becomes increasingly difficult, making Larnach one of the organization's clearest trade candidates. There are contending teams around baseball that could use corner outfield help. Larnach is productive, affordable, and under team control beyond this season. That's a profile that should generate legitimate interest. Whether the Twins ultimately buy, sell, or try to walk the line somewhere in between, I think it's in their best interest to explore a Larnach trade. A month from now, if the Twins are sitting two or three games above .500 and firmly in the playoff picture, I'd probably have a change of heart. But as things stand today, trading Trevor Larnach this summer feels about as easy as it gets. View the full article

Minnesota Twins fans can officially stop refreshing trade rumor websites looking for Byron Buxton updates. On Tuesday, Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll delivered something front office executives rarely offer: a definitive answer. "We have no plans to trade Byron," Zoll said. "It's not something we're exploring. It's not something we plan to explore." That statement alone carries significant weight. Front offices are typically careful with their wording, especially as the trade deadline approaches. Executives often leave themselves flexibility, speaking in vague terms about listening on players or evaluating opportunities. Even when a team has little intention of moving a player, they rarely remove the possibility altogether. Zoll did exactly that. With the August 3 trade deadline approaching and Minnesota sitting in the middle of a crowded American League playoff race, recent speculation had connected Buxton's name to potential trade discussions. A national report from ESPN even suggested he could become the second best player traded if the Twins decided to pivot toward selling. Zoll's comments leave little room for interpretation. Buxton Has Been Carrying the Twins Part of the reason trade rumors gained traction is because Buxton's value has never been higher. Through 306 plate appearances, the Twins center fielder owns a .275/.333/.596 slash line with an American League-leading 25 home runs. When healthy, he's playing like one of the best players in baseball and has positioned himself squarely in the MVP conversation. Of course, health remains the lingering question. Durability has followed Buxton throughout his career, and it's impossible to discuss his value without acknowledging that reality. However, when he's on the field, few players impact a game the way he does. The Twins know that. Even though Minnesota sits four games below .500, they remain very much alive in both the AL Wild Card race and the AL Central. They're only two games out of a playoff spot and 3.5 games behind both Chicago and Cleveland in the division standings. Trading Buxton would signal a dramatically different organizational direction. Instead, Zoll made it clear the Twins aren't interested in taking that path. A Different Tone Than Last Year What's perhaps most interesting about Zoll's comments is how different they are from the organization's approach a year ago. Last summer, rumors circulated around several veteran players as Minnesota struggled to find consistency. While there was never any concrete indication that the Twins seriously considered moving Buxton, the organization never publicly dismissed the possibility either. That silence didn't go unnoticed. When Buxton arrived at spring training, he acknowledged some frustration with how the situation had been handled. "All it takes is for somebody at the top to go to the media, 'We're not trading you,'" Buxton said in February. "Trade rumors stop and now we don't have those conversations. That's how simple this could get." At the time, the comments stood out because Buxton rarely speaks publicly about front-office matters. While the situation clearly didn't damage the relationship between player and organization, it offered a glimpse into how unnecessary speculation can affect even veteran stars. Fast forward a few months and Zoll essentially provided the exact public backing Buxton had requested. Whether intentional or not, the message was received. Looking Beyond the Deadline The bigger story may not be whether Buxton gets traded, but whether the Twins eventually explore keeping him in Minnesota beyond his current contract. If both sides remain aligned, this offseason could present an opportunity to discuss an extension that allows Buxton to finish his career where it started. That's still speculative, but it's a far more realistic conversation than trade rumors at this point. For now, both the player and the organization are delivering the same message. Buxton said he isn't interested in leaving. The Twins say they aren't interested in moving him. Trade rumors may never completely disappear when a star player is involved, but Zoll's comments are about as close to a final answer as a front office executive can provide. View the full article

Felix Arronde fanned eight over five scoreless innings as Northwest Arkansas rallied late to beat Springfield 6-3, with Carson Roccaforte driving in three. Darwin Rodriguez tossed seven scoreless innings, and Jhosmmel Zue belted a grand slam in Columbia’s 4-3 win. Bailey Falter won in Omaha’s 3-2 victory behind homers from Abraham Toro and Drew Waters. Quad Cities fell 6-2 despite Angel Acosta’s two-run shot. Royals Transactions Kansas City Royals placed 3B Maikel Garcia on the 10-day injured list. Left hand muscle strain. Kansas City Royals recalled 3B Josh Rojas from Omaha Storm Chasers. Toro And Waters Go Deep As Storm Chasers Edge Columbus Omaha rode two home runs and a strong start to a 3-2 win over the Columbus Clippers. Falter set the tone, allowing one run on six hits over five innings while striking out five and walking none. Anthony Gose followed with two scoreless innings, striking out three, and Genesis Cabrera struck out two in a scoreless frame. Eric Cerantola allowed a run in the ninth but closed it out for the save. Toro got the scoring started with a solo home run in the second inning. The Storm Chasers added two more in the fourth, when Waters launched a solo shot and Luke Maile singled home Brandon Drury. That proved to be enough, as Omaha held on through the final innings. Toro, Waters, Drury, Brett Squires, and Maile each collected a hit. The Storm Chasers left six runners on base and went 1-for-3 with runners in scoring position. Omaha is now 34-41 this season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Peyton Wilson 4 0 0 0 0 1 Matthew Lugo 4 0 0 0 0 1 Brett Squires 3 0 1 0 0 0 Luca Tresh 1 0 0 0 0 1 Abraham Toro 4 1 1 1 0 3 Drew Waters 4 1 1 1 0 0 Brandon Drury 4 1 1 0 0 2 Gavin Cross 1 0 0 0 2 0 Luke Maile 2 0 1 1 1 0 Kevin Newman 2 0 0 0 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Bailey Falter 5 6 1 1 0 5 0 Anthony Gose 2 2 0 0 1 3 0 Genesis Cabrera 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 Eric Cerantola 1 2 1 1 0 2 0 Arronde Dominates And Roccaforte Drives In Three In Naturals Comeback Northwest Arkansas scored five runs over the seventh and eighth innings to pull away from the Springfield Cardinals in a 6-3 win. Arronde, our 14th-ranked prospect at Royals Keep, was outstanding, striking out eight over five scoreless innings while allowing three hits and no walks. Caden Monke struck out three over 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and Zachary Cawyer struck out two in a scoreless ninth. Tommy Molsky surrendered three runs in the home half of the ninth. The Naturals took an early lead in the first when Roccaforte scored on a Spencer Nivens groundout. The game stayed close until the seventh, when Roccaforte doubled home two runs. Northwest Arkansas broke it open in the eighth, plating three runs, two of them on bases-loaded walks to Alberto Rodriguez and Roccaforte. Roccaforte finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Rudy Martin Jr. scored twice and stole two bases. The Naturals left nine runners on base and went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position. The Naturals improved to 30-38. Player AB R H RBI BB K Carson Roccaforte 4 1 2 3 1 0 Jack Pineda 4 0 0 0 1 1 Sam Kulasingam 4 0 0 0 0 0 Spencer Nivens 5 1 2 1 0 1 Daniel Vazquez 5 0 1 0 0 3 Rudy Martin Jr. 3 2 1 0 1 0 Omar Hernandez 2 2 0 0 1 1 Connor Scott 2 0 0 0 2 2 Alberto Rodriguez 2 0 1 1 2 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Felix Arronde 5 3 0 0 0 8 0 Caden Monke 1 2/3 1 0 0 1 3 0 Tommy Molsky 1 1/3 1 3 3 3 1 0 Zachary Cawyer 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 Acosta Homers But River Bandits Fall To South Bend Quad Cities dropped a 6-2 decision to the South Bend Cubs despite an early lead from a home run. Tanner Jones took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits over five innings with five strikeouts, two walks, and a home run. Aiden Jimenez followed with a scoreless inning, but Yimi Presinal gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning. L.P. Langevin struck out three over 1 1/3 scoreless innings to close. The River Bandits got their offense going in the fifth inning, when Angel Acosta hit a two-run home run that scored Connor Rasmussen. That accounted for both Quad Cities runs. The lineup managed five hits, with Nolan Sailors, Blake Mitchell, Ramon Ramirez, Tyriq Kemp, and Acosta each recording one. The River Bandits drew six walks but left eight runners on base, unable to add to their total after the fifth. They also went just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Quad Cities fell to 30-36 after the loss to South Bend. Player AB R H RBI BB K Nolan Sailors 5 0 1 0 0 3 Asbel Gonzalez 4 0 0 0 0 2 Blake Mitchell 3 0 1 0 1 1 Ramon Ramirez 1 0 1 0 2 0 Luke Pelzer 2 0 0 0 1 0 Derlin Figueroa 4 0 0 0 0 2 Tyriq Kemp 4 0 1 0 0 2 Connor Rasmussen 2 1 0 0 2 1 Angel Acosta 4 1 1 2 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Tanner Jones 5 7 3 3 2 5 1 Aiden Jimenez 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 Yimi Presinal 2/3 3 3 3 0 1 0 L.P. Langevin 1 1/3 0 0 0 1 3 0 Zue Grand Slam And Rodriguez Gem Lift Fireflies Past Kannapolis Columbia rode one big inning and a dominant start to a 4-3 win over the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. Rodriguez was excellent, throwing seven scoreless innings while allowing five hits and one walk and striking out six. Dash Albus pitched a scoreless inning for the save. Henson Leal allowed three runs in the eighth, but the lead held. All four Fireflies runs came in the second inning. With the bases loaded, Jhosmmel Zue hit a grand slam to right field, scoring Yandel Ricardo, Hyungchan Um, and Roni Cabrera ahead of him. That outburst gave Rodriguez all the support he needed. Sean Gamble, Stone Russell, JC Vanek, Roni Cabrera, Zue, and Josi Novas each collected a hit, and Gamble added a stolen base. Columbia left just three runners on base and went 2-for-3 with runners in scoring position. The win improved the Fireflies' overall record to 35-35. Player AB R H RBI BB K Josh Hammond 4 0 0 0 0 0 Sean Gamble 4 0 1 0 0 1 Stone Russell 4 0 1 0 0 0 JC Vanek 4 0 1 0 0 2 Yandel Ricardo 3 1 0 0 1 0 Hyungchan Um 3 1 0 0 1 0 Roni Cabrera 4 1 1 0 0 2 Jhosmmel Zue 3 1 1 4 0 2 Josi Novas 3 0 1 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Darwin Rodriguez 7 5 0 0 1 6 0 Henson Leal 1 4 3 3 1 1 0 Dash Albus 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: DNP David Shields: DNP Josh Hammond: 0-for-4 Blake Mitchell: 1-for-3, BB, K Sean Gamble: 1-for-4, SB, K Ramon Ramirez: 1-for-1, 2 BB Drew Beam: DNP Carson Roccaforte: 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, BB Asbel Gonzalez: 0-for-4, 2 K Yandel Ricardo: 0-for-3, BB Michael Lombardi: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Justin Lamkin: DNP Felix Arronde: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K Blake Wolters: DNP Steven Zobac: DNP Austin Charles: DNP Daniel Vázquez: 1-for-5, 3 K Kamden Edge: DNP Warren Calcano: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K View the full article

Pete Crow-Armstrong contains multitudes. Almost immediately upon making his Chicago Cubs debut with a 2023 cup of coffee, it was clear that there would be multiple sides of the Crow-Armstrong experience. He's a player with loud tools capable of doing things rarely seen on a baseball field, in all phases of the game. There's also an erratic quality to his game, wherein his immaturity as a hitter can compromise those tools in a way that prevents them from manifesting with as much consistency as one might prefer. Since he became a full-time player during the 2024 season, we've seen each end of that spectrum. The 2025 season, specifically, illustrated the layers of his performance, with a first half that garnered buzz as a National League MVP candidate before it faded entirely in the second. But we've never seen a Pete Crow-Armstrong like we're seeing this June. It's hard to imagine this is where we are after the start in which Crow-Armstrong found himself mired back in April. He finished that month with a .241/.307/.362 line and a 88 wRC+, while striking out roughly 30 percent of the time. Things progressed steadily in May, and his blazing hot streak really began on May 22, but (like Sammy Sosa did back in 1998) he really began to find the national spotlight once we reached June. The numbers this month read as follows (79 plate appearances): Batting Average: .437 On-Base Percentage: .481 Slugging Percentage: .930 K%: 22.8 BB%: 7.6 Isolated Power: .493 wRC+: 282 It's nearly impossible to communicate the immensity of that output, especially when the month is just about gone. The sample isn't exactly small at this point. To add some further context, this is where the second-best hitter ranks in each of the above this month (save strikeout and walk rates, which are only notable given how reasonable they are within Crow-Armstrong's wider body of work with respect to plate discipline): Batting Average: .391 (Yordan Álvarez) On-Base Percentage: .473 (Shohei Ohtani, though Álvarez is tied with Crow-Armstrong) Slugging Percentage: .783 (Ohtani) Isolated Power: .433 (Ohtani) wRC+: 234 (Ohtani) It would be unreasonable to suggest that Crow-Armstrong possesses the comprehensive skill set and consistency required to match hitters like Álvarez or Ohtani over a larger sample. However, the fact that he isn't just ahead of them but comfortably so speaks to just how obscene his output this month has actually been. It far exceeds anything he did in in the first half of his breakout 2025 season. And the above was all before he did this on Tuesday: Such is the nature of a stretch like this that Matt Trueblood already invoked Sosa's 1998 heater when discussing his output earlier this month (with plenty of additional nuance beyond the numbers). To update the comparison, since May 22, Crow-Armstrong is batting .387/.466/.811, with 21 extra-base hits. From May 22 through June 23 in 1998, Sosa hit .325/.358/.921, with 24 extra-base hits. Only 12 of Crow-Armstrong's long hits were homers, whereas an impossible 22 of Sosa's were, but this is what a run like Sosa's looks like in the modern game. Perhaps, though, there's a former NL MVP out of the Cubs organization of an even more recent vintage to which we can draw comparisons. Kris Bryant took home the award in 2016 as a sophomore, in what would end up being the peak of his career. That season, he posted a line that ran .292/.385/.554 with a .262 ISO and a 148 wRC+. The output that season was massive. His best month that season was August, wherein he went .383/.472/.748, which looks a whole lot like Crow-Armstrong's line over the last 31 days—but is worse. The best player in his best month on a championship team falls short of where we're seeing Pete Crow-Armstrong in June of 2026. We could even extend it to a player who has been a comp for Crow-Armstrong since the two were part of the same 2021 trade: Javier Báez. In 2018, there was a real case to be made that Báez should have taken home the MVP award over Christian Yelich—though he peaked a little too early to make it convincing. His best month that year came in July, with a line of .333/.347/.606, an ISO of .273 (though his .288 in August was higher), and a 155 wRC+. Again, we're not even in the same ballpark in comparing that to Crow-Armstrong's June. Of course, none of this is to cast aspersions on some of the most beloved Cubs of the modern era at the individual peak at the absolute pinnacle of their powers. It's to showcase just how absurd this version of Pete Crow-Armstrong has been in June. With the torrid month he's had, he's run his overall line on the season up to .287/.366/.529. He's been 50% more productive than an average batter for the year. There isn't a player in the sport who has accrued more fWAR on the season than Crow-Armstrong has, which also speaks to the fact that he's remained the sport's best defensive center fielder in the midst of this offensive explosion, an impressive feat in itself. It often feels like as long as Shohei Ohtani is in Major League Baseball, he's the National League's lock for the MVP award, but there's a real case emerging for Crow-Armstrong to steal one. Regardless of the award implications, it feels like there's something of a foundation being laid for Pete Crow-Armstrong this month. Between the steady improvement in May and the explosion in June, it does feel like we're watching a player settle into his skill set and demonstrate a level of maturation at the plate that can fuel a lasting brilliance. The month itself is important because it's among the most enjoyable things in the sport to watch a player performing at this level for nearly four consecutive weeks. What happens next, though, could prove just how important it is, for the long run. View the full article

Roughly three weeks remain until the All-Star Break gives most of the Kansas City Royals a few days’ relief from the deepening disappointment of their once-promising 2026 season. A bad bullpen, an improving but still wanting offense, and too many injuries to key players have the Royals stranded in, or at best near, the American League Central cellar. But the All-Star Break also marks that point of the summer when the trade market finally heats up — the August 3 major league trade deadline will loom large when the Break ends and regular play resumes July 17. Barring some astonishing reversal of fortune, the Royals will be deadline sellers. With his club on pace to lose 90 games or more, general manager J.J. Picollo won’t be looking for a playoff race roster edge; instead, he’ll be fielding calls from legitimate contenders searching for game-changing down-the-stretch help. Selling is, of course, easier and almost always cheaper than buying. Because contenders seek valuable, proven big-league players, selling enables weaker teams to reduce payroll, typically in exchange for much cheaper prospects who may be years away from the majors. But selling has its risks. Here are three Picollo must avoid. The 2026 Trade Deadline Isn’t the Time To Start a Royals Rebuild As disappointing as this team is, tearing it down to facilitate another painful rebuild isn’t warranted — the Royals aren’t very good, but their cupboards are far from empty. Bobby Witt Jr. is his usual self, and his season will sour only if his strained MCL turns into something worse. Jac Caglianone (.275, .349 OBP, and a club-leading 12 homers through Sunday) seems to be living up to the huge hype he didn’t live up to last year. Michael Massey (.266 with seven homers and good defense) may end up proving he belongs at the keystone. Maikel Garcia isn’t at the top of his game, but will be fine. Although a foot injury currently sidelines center fielder Kyle Isbel, his bat is better, and his defense remains excellent. And while injuries continue to plague Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic, starters Stephen Kolek (4-1, 2.68 ERA before St. Louis battered him Sunday) and Michael Wacha (3.64 ERA and 10 quality starts in 15 tries) have been good. Daniel Lynch IV is, with his steadiness and 2.53 ERA in 32 appearances through Sunday, the best in a troubled bullpen. The Royals have enough talent to form a good present and future core; they don’t require a complete overhaul. The time isn’t ripe for the kind of hasty, ill-advised, “burn it down” approach that will leave the roster weaker on Aug. 4 than it is now. But what about prospects, you say? The farm system needs help, but the bulk of its best prospects are two seasons or more away from Kauffman Stadium. At the same time, the big league roster isn’t that far from winning — now, and this winter, are the times to fine-tune it, not rip it apart and wait several long years for success. The Royals Should Not Blow Up Their Starting Rotation The potential for a rotation exodus exists. Bubic can test free agency for the first time this winter. Ragans’ recently-extended trip to the Injury List renders his future uncertain, veterans Wacha and Seth Lugo could be attractive at the deal deadline, and some teams are bound to offer up a good prospect or two for Kolek or Noah Cameron… or both. None of that, though, gives KC good cause to move multiple pieces of its rotation. If he’s healthy, trading Bubic makes sense — he’s liable to bolt in free agency and extending him a qualifying offer seems unlikely, so dealing him before August 3 guarantees the club more than the nothing he’ll net them if he opts for free agency. Beyond Bubic, the Royals can afford to stand pat. Ragans’ health poses serious questions, but the club shouldn’t give up on him yet. Wacha and Lugo are signed through 2027, and the club holds one-year options when those deals expire; both could play key roles next season when the Royals should be better. Kolek has been too impressive to dangle as prospect bait, and Cameron hasn’t done anything to imperil his starter’s spot. No, the Royals have a solid rotation, diminished this season only by maddening injuries to important pieces. The organization’s need for prospects isn’t so extreme that Picollo should break up his starters to get unseasoned arms not yet suitable for prime time. The Royals Shouldn’t Put Vinnie Pasquantino On the Trade Block A broken hamate bone has Pasquantino on the IL, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be on the market. His reputation as a slugger and 100-plus-RBI man is well-deserved (he pounded 51 homers and drove in 210 runs across the 2024 and 2025 campaigns), and after a slow start this season, Kansas City’s star first baseman was slashing .298/.365/.426 with a homer and seven RBI this month before going down June 13. That he could be back before the deal deadline arrives means he might be shopped. And even if he isn’t back, remember the Royals dealt Danny Duffy to the Dodgers at the 2021 deadline when he was on the IL. Pasquantino, then, could be an attractive target who won’t break the banks of contending clubs hunting for more punch and production — he hits for power, drives in runs, and is playing on an easily affordable two-year, $11.1 million contract that runs through next season. Some might also argue that Caglianone makes Pasquantino expendable: first base is Caglianone’s “natural” position; he’s been superb there since Pasquantino went on the IL, and Pasquantino is eligible for free agency after the 2028 season. But Caglianone’s emergence as a big league-caliber hitter doesn’t mean his development is complete, and do the Royals really want to compound the difficulty of their continuing and frustrating search for more outfield offense by moving Caglianone to first permanently? And the club is better off offensively with both sluggers in the lineup. Deal Pasquantino? No. This is a team that shouldn’t be shopping for the kind of firepower Pasquantino can generate. Unless he’s faced with a phenomenal offer too great to reject, Picollo should listen politely, then turn down overtures for Pasquantino. View the full article

When Luke Keaschall arrived in Fort Myers this spring, expectations bordered on unreasonable. After an impressive debut and years of strong minor-league production, many believed Keaschall was ready to become a foundational piece of Minnesota's lineup. There were legitimate arguments that he should open the season as the Twins' leadoff hitter. Some even projected him as the club's second-best offensive player, behind Byron Buxton. Instead, the first month of the season was a reminder that development is rarely linear. Keaschall struggled out of the gate, his defense remained a work in progress, and questions started to emerge about whether he was ready for an everyday role. A few months later, however, the conversation shifted dramatically. He still isn't producing the power numbers many hoped to see, but he is beginning to look like something else. Maybe Luke Keaschall isn't becoming the next star slugger. Maybe he's becoming the next Luis Arraez. And that might be perfectly fine. Early Season Sophomore Slump Keaschall's April numbers painted an ugly picture. In 90 plate appearances, he hit .217/.267/.275 with four doubles and one home run. Perhaps even more concerning was his approach. He struck out 21 times while drawing only eight walks, a significant departure from the disciplined offensive profile that had made him such an intriguing prospect. The struggles became impossible to ignore. At the plate, Keaschall looked caught between being aggressive and trying to work counts. He increased his bat speed this year, but that initially caused more problems than it solved. In the field, his below-average defense at second base continued to create questions about his long-term fit. When a player isn't providing defensive value and isn't producing offensively, roster spot discussions naturally follow. There were legitimate reasons to wonder if a reset at Triple-A might be necessary. Instead, the Twins stuck with him. That patience is beginning to pay off. Keaschall is Officially Fixed Since May 1, Keaschall has looked like an entirely different hitter. Across 164 plate appearances, he owns a .288/.390/.381 slash line, with eight doubles, one triple, and one home run. More importantly, the underlying plate discipline metrics have returned to the levels that made him successful throughout his climb through the minors. During that stretch, he has drawn 20 walks while striking out only 23 times. The trend has become even more noticeable recently. Over his last 11 games, Keaschall owns a .930 OPS, fueled by an outstanding .457 on-base percentage. He's walked seven times while striking out only six times during that span. The Twins' offense has finally started to find consistency over the last couple of weeks, and Keaschall has become an important part of that resurgence. Every lineup benefits from hitters who can extend innings, force opposing pitchers to throw extra pitches, and consistently find ways to reach base. Keaschall is doing all of those things right now. Keaschall Won't Hit for Power As encouraging as the recent turnaround has been, it has also clarified exactly what kind of hitter Keaschall is likely to become. Power probably won't be a major part of the equation. His average exit velocity of 84.7 mph ranks in the 4th percentile league-wide. He also sits in the 18th percentile or lower in xSLG, Barrel%, and Hard-Hit%. Those numbers aren't flukes. Much of the issue stems from his 69.2 mph bat speed. Even when Keaschall makes quality contact, he simply doesn't generate the same raw force as many of the league's premier power hitters. He squares the ball up fairly well, but his hardest contact comes when he's hitting to the center of the diamond on a line, rather than when he pulls and/or backspins the ball. The result is a unique offensive profile. Instead of launching balls into the seats, Keaschall produces line drives and hard-hit singles. With a 28.7 feet-per-second sprint speed, he has enough athleticism to turn some of those balls into doubles and create pressure on opposing defenses. It may not be flashy, but it can still be productive. The Luis Arraez Connection The comparison to Arraez becomes increasingly difficult to ignore. Throughout his career, Arraez has built value almost entirely through elite contact skills, good plate discipline, and an ability to reach base. Home runs were never a significant part of his game, but his offensive profile worked because he consistently put the baseball in play and rarely gave away at-bats. Keaschall appears to be following a similar blueprint. The encouraging part is that many of the foundational skills are already present. His chase, whiff and strikeout rates all rank in the 83rd percentile or better this season. Those numbers suggest that the early-season swing-and-miss issues were more of a temporary slump than a permanent concern, and that he will find ways to draw walks even though pitchers don't fear him. Like Arraez, Keaschall's success will depend on maintaining elite bat control and strike-zone awareness. If he starts chasing pitches or allowing strikeouts to creep back into his game, the lack of power becomes a much bigger problem. But if he continues controlling the strike zone the way he has since May, there is a path to becoming an extremely valuable offensive contributor. Keaschall is unlikely to replicate Arraez's batting titles. Arraez routinely posted strikeout rates below 10% and possessed perhaps the most advanced contact skills in baseball. Keaschall's game includes more walks, more athleticism, and more speed on the bases. The comparison is less about identical production and more about the path to offensive value. Arraez showed that players do not need 25-home run power to contribute to wins. They need to get on base, create scoring opportunities, and consistently put pressure on opposing pitchers and defenses. Keaschall is beginning to demonstrate that he can do exactly that. The version of Keaschall many envisioned this spring may never fully materialize. He may not become a middle-of-the-order force. He may never produce the type of exit velocities that light up Statcast leaderboards. The home run totals will likely remain modest. That doesn't mean he can't be an impact player. Minnesota's lineup already features hitters capable of changing a game with one swing. What it has often lacked is a player who consistently reaches base and keeps the line moving. Keaschall's recent surge suggests he can fill that role. The comparison to Arraez should not be viewed as a disappointment. Twins fans spent years appreciating one of baseball's most unique offensive talents. If Keaschall develops into a player who reaches base at an elite clip, controls the strike zone, and frustrates opposing pitchers every night, Minnesota will gladly take those results. The path may not look exactly like what many expected in March, but it is becoming increasingly clear that Keaschall has found a formula that works. And if that formula resembles the one Arraez used to become a batting champion, the Twins should have no complaints. Are there other similarities between Keaschall and Arraez? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Major League Baseball released its latest All-Star balloting update on Monday afternoon. Brice Turang is the closest to representing the Brewers in Philadelphia next month, but he remains roughly 63,000 votes behind Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott for second place. To advance to the next phase of voting, Turang must bridge that gap to land within the top two spots at his position. Turang deserves to play in the Midsummer Classic for his performance on the whole this year. He leads qualified second basemen with a 132 wRC+, and his 2.9 bWAR ranks second. However, he hasn’t been in his All-Star form for several weeks. It’s been an especially rough go lately. Since June 5, Turang is hitting .225/.267/.437 for a .703 OPS. During that time, he’s struck out in 35.2% of his plate appearances, while walking at just a 5.6% clip. “I think he's going through a little lull,” Pat Murphy said in the visiting manager’s office in Cincinnati earlier this week. “I think he'll self-correct.” Since a red-hot start to his season, Turang’s bat has cooled considerably. After posting a 160 wRC+ in April, he slipped to 105 in May and 124 in June. His strikeouts have steadily increased throughout. The good news is that even the slumping version of Turang has still been a solid hitter, particularly for someone still playing strong defense at the keystone. “There's a few exceptions, but he figures it out for a hit for one at-bat,” Murphy said. “Well, not figures it out, but he's good enough to still produce, and his lulls are not that low. That's a sign of a really good player.” During the club’s last homestand, Murphy explained that Turang was struggling with his timing because he was drifting forward off his back leg, rather than staying back and working behind the baseball with his swing. “He understands his swing, and he understands what he's doing right now that's holding him back a little bit. We talked about it in the dugout yesterday,” Murphy said at the time. “He totally understands what he's doing when he gets in these modes where he drifts forward and gets to his front, he can't stay behind the ball.” When a hitter drifts forward, velocity gets on them quicker. Turang has always let the ball get deep, which means he swings later at fastballs, but it has progressed to the point where he’s too late too often. That lateness means that even when he lines the ball up and makes contact, it's weaker than it should be, because the ball sails a hair deeper before his bat can get to it, so he catches it off the end. Overcompensating for that can also result in pulling off the ball, with the same result. “You're going forward, ball's coming, it makes sense,” Murphy said. “So then you start cheating to it, and then what happens? Then you come off the ball. So there's all sorts of ramifications of it.” The issue has been most pronounced against left-handed pitchers. Turang has kept his head above water against right-handers, but the quality of his at-bats has fallen off badly against southpaws. According to Statcast, he was late on 30% of his swings against left-handed fastballs in May. That’s up to 58% in June. Month wRC+ (RHP) wRC+ (LHP) DRC+ (RHP) DRC+ (LHP) April 185 98 150 110 May 140 14 123 89 June 170 -20 102 51 Murphy wanted to give Turang, who has played in 73 of the team’s 77 games and experienced a slight decrease in bat speed, more days off to work through the issue, away from the pressure of a game setting. That may be more plausible now that Cooper Pratt is in the fold as the everyday shortstop. On June 14, two days after Pratt’s promotion, Turang was out of the lineup for the first time since May 3. In eight games since then, he’s hit .303/.343/.455 while making more loud contact, but he’s remained too late on velocity and continued striking out 37.1% of the time. The good news is that Turang and the Brewers have already diagnosed the problem, and it’s a fairly simple fix. Nothing is wrong with his swing path, which is nearly identical to when he was crushing the ball in April. That doesn’t necessarily make applying the adjustment easier, though. “It's easy to talk about. ‘Well, just change it.’ But it's hard to do when the action’s on and you've repeated it,” Murphy said. Fortunately, Jackson Chourio and Jake Bauers have alleviated the pressure on Turang to be the linchpin of the lineup. Those hitters will fall into their own ebbs. At that point, it could again be Turang’s turn to carry more weight in the middle of the order. In the meantime, his timing and contact rate are worth monitoring. “If he stays behind the ball, things are a lot different for him,” Murphy said. “The swing is just beautiful. I mean, it's what you dream about.” View the full article

The New York Mets may send just one representative to the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. Juan Soto is the favorite to earn the spot after being left off the National League team last year. He would join the group of one-time Mets All-Stars, although that feels like a temporary “honor.” More than one trip seems inevitable, even after the snub in '25. In this three-part series, Grand Central Mets will look at each player who has made just one All-Star Game appearance as a member of the club. Part 1 will span the franchise's first 20 seasons, 1962 through 1981. Duke Snider (1963) “The Duke of Flatbush” was not the Mets’ first All-Star. Richie Ashburn holds that distinction. But Ashburn was technically a two-time All-Star with the club, even though he played one season for the Mets. There were two All-Star Games in 1962 and he was named to the National League team for both games. Thus, the No. 1 designation goes to Snider. Duke was no stranger to the Midsummer Classic by the time he got to the Mets. He made the NL squad seven seasons in a row (1950 through 1956) during his prime as the Brooklyn Dodgers’ center fielder. As a Mets outfielder, though, he was mostly washed, a big name who could attract nostalgic fans to the Polo Grounds. On the other hand, he was a top player on a club that would go on to lose 111 games, so he deserved the trip to Cleveland for the game. He entered in the ninth inning as a replacement for Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Tommy Davis. Snider struck out as a pinch hitter in the top half and then played in the field in the bottom half as the NL prevailed 5-3. He finished the year with 14 home runs, 45 RBIs and a .243/.345/.401 slash line in 415 plate appearances. That looked great when compared with the team's anemic .219/.285/.315 line. Snider's return to New York lasted just one season. He wanted to end his career playing for a contending club, and the Mets were years away from becoming one, so they sold him to, of all teams, the San Francisco Giants on April 14, 1964, just prior to the season opener. Ed Kranepool (1965) Kranepool was the Mets’ first homegrown All-Star. The Bronx native signed with the club out of high school in June 1962 for a reported $75,000, a huge sum at the time. He was called up from the minors that September and got into three games, making him an original Met. Three years later, as a 20-year-old, he was backing up NL first baseman Ernie Banks at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota. Kranepool didn't get into the game, a 6-5 NL victory. The managers back then treated the All-Star contest as a mini-World Series rather than an exhibition. The berth became his only shot at glory. He never did much better than his 1965 season numbers: 10 home runs, 53 RBIs and a .253/.303/.371 slash line over 575 plate appearances. But Kranepool could boast other accomplishments. He won a World Series ring with the 1969 Mets, hitting a home run in Game 3. He also played a bench role for the Mets in the 1973 World Series. He lasted 18 seasons with the franchise, and his name is still high on many of its all-time lists: first in games played, third in hits, and sixth in RBIs. Cleon Jones (1969) Jones was in the midst of a career year when he represented the Mets alongside Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman in Washington, D.C. He was fourth in the NL batting race when average still meant something. (He finished the year third at .340, to go with 12 homers and 75 RBIs.) Jones started in left field and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in a 9-3 Senior Circuit victory. One week later, his season took an odd turn. As the Mets were getting hammered by the Houston Astros in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Shea Stadium, manager Gil Hodges walked to the outfield to publicly yank Jones from the game. The official reason was a hamstring pull, but it was clear in the moment that Hodges was benching Jones for loafing in the field. The incident helped to spark a furious stretch run that ended with the Miracle Mets winning the World Series over the 109-win Baltimore Orioles. Jones caught the final out of the clinching Game 5 victory. Tug McGraw (1972) McGraw became one of the game's top relief pitchers in 1971, posting a 1.70 ERA, 11 wins and eight saves. In 1972, he was even better as the Mets’ late-game stopper. He earned the trip to Atlanta for the Midsummer Classic. The screwballing left-hander wound up playing a huge role in the game. He pitched a scoreless ninth and 10th inning, striking out four (including Reggie Jackson) and allowing one hit. His teammates scored a run in the bottom of the 10th for a 4-3 victory, making McGraw the winning pitcher. He finished 1972 with another 1.70 ERA, along with eight wins and a career-high 27 saves, but by the summer of 1973 he was in a steep decline and no longer reliable. Then came his “Ya Gotta Believe” clubhouse rant. McGraw and the Mets got red-hot in September. The vibes lasted all the way to Game 7 of the World Series, where Jackson homered to power the Oakland Athletics to a championship repeat. Dave Kingman (1976) Kingman was dubbed “Sky King” and “Kong” in New York because of his size (6-foot-6) and power. In ‘76, he was leading the NL with 30 home runs at the break. The fans rewarded him with a trip to Philadelphia for baseball's bicentennial celebration. He started the game in right field and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout (he did that a lot, too) in the NL's 7- 1 triumph. Six days later, Kingman's season fell apart. He tore a ligament in his left thumb diving for a ball in left field against the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium. He underwent surgery and missed 33 games. When he returned in late August, his power wasn't quite the same. He hit five more homers to finish the season with 37, eclipsing his franchise record by one. By mid-1977, the Mets were moving on from him. They traded their slugger to the San Diego Padres at the June 15 deadline for Bobby Valentine and Paul Siebert. The move was not the most notable one that night, of course. Pat Zachry (1978) Zachry came to the Mets from the Cincinnati Reds on June 15, 1977, as part of the Tom Seaver “Midnight Massacre” trade. The right-hander from Texas was never going to fill “The Franchise”’s shoes, but he was good enough to lead a rotation and represent his new club in the All-Star Game. He went to San Diego for the ‘78 game but only watched as the NL won 5-3. Two weeks later, Zachry pitched in a game that came to define his career. He was facing the Reds at Shea, and Pete Rose was pursuing Joe DiMaggio's record 56-game hitting streak. Zachry gave up a single to Rose in the seventh inning, extending the streak to 37 games. Zachry was taken out of the game later in the frame with the Mets trailing. After he got into the dugout, he tried to kick a helmet in frustration. He ended up hitting a cement step. Zachry broke his left foot and missed the remainder of the season. His final numbers were solid — a 10-6 record, 3.33 ERA and five complete games in 21 starts. More injuries followed. Elbow and Achilles ailments limited him to seven games in 1979. He finally came back strong in 1980 and went on to pitch into the 1985 season. Lee Mazzilli (1979) The ‘79 game is known as “The Dave Parker Game”: Mets fans could claim it as “The Lee Mazzilli Game.” Parker gained lasting fame for throwing out Jim Rice at third base and Brian Downing at the plate from right field, but Mazzilli contributed greatly to the NL's 7-6 win at Seattle's Kingdome, too. First, “The Italian Stallion” lined a game-tying pinch-hit home run off the left-field foul pole in the eighth inning against Texas Rangers fireballer Jim Kern. Then, the kid from Brooklyn drew a go-ahead bases-loaded walk in the ninth against New York Yankees ace Ron Guidry. It was a rare moment of pride for a Mets team that finished 63-99 that season. But Mazzilli's magic was about to disappear. Prior to the 1980 season, the Mets moved him from center field to first base to make room for the newly acquired Jerry Morales. He eventually moved back to center, but on April 1, 1982, the Mets traded Mazzilli to the Rangers for two major league-ready pitchers: Walt Terrell and a kid from Yale named Ron Darling. Joel Youngblood (1981) Youngblood possessed speed, pop and versatility, but mostly, he possessed a big arm. In 1981, he also possessed a lofty batting average, and that made him All-Star material. He was hitting .359 in 48 games as the club's everyday right fielder when the players went on strike in mid-June. When the strike ended about two months later, baseball decided to use the All-Star Game in Cleveland as the relaunch. Youngblood's average — and the Mets’ 17-34 record —- hadn't changed, so a spot on the NL roster was his. Youngblood made an early cameo in the game. He pinch-hit for NL starter Fernando Valenzuela in the top of the second. With that out of the way (the NL won 5-4), it was on to the makeshift second half of the season. Youngblood didn't last a week. He had injured his left knee in June, and he injured it again in mid-August. His season was over by Aug. 15. The Mets missed him as they fought for the second-half NL East title in the final six weeks. View the full article

Sandy Alcantara's fourth strikeout against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night was also the 1,002nd of his Miami Marlins career, surpassing Ricky Nolasco for the franchise's all-time strikeout record. For his record-breaker, Alcantara got Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka swinging in the top of the seventh inning. That was the penultimate batter Alcantara faced en route to breaking another record—by earning his 30th career win at loanDepot park, he broke a tie with the late great José Fernández. Here is a career breakdown of Alcantara's Ks by pitch type: 279 with changeups 271 with four-seamers 255 with cutters 156 with sinkers 41 with sliders 10 with sweepers Nolasco originally surpassed Dontrelle Willis for the Marlins strikeout lead on August 23, 2011. Nobody had come close to challenging it since then until Alcantara. It took Alcantara nearly eight years from the day of his Marlins debut to become the record-holder. It won't necessarily require Cy Young Award-caliber talent for somebody to usurp him. but finding common ground with the club on a contract extension that delays free agent eligibility will be crucial. Alcantara, for example, would've been eligible to walk after the 2024 season had he not signed an extension. Alcantara has a firm hold of the record through the end of the decade, at the very least. Current Triple-A arm Braxton Garrett is next closest to him among active Marlins with 325, followed by Eury Pérez at 285, who’ll be returning from an injured list stint on Wednesday. Should Alcantara remain with the Marlins through season's end and avoid lengthy injury absences, he's on track to surpass Nolasco for several other franchise records, including innings pitched (currently 48.2 IP behind), games started (11 behind) and losses (one behind). View the full article

Caleb Durbin’s rise didn’t begin when the hits started falling. It began when the ball stopped ending up on the ground. That single change helps explain almost everything that has happened over the past month. After spending much of the season making contact without doing much damage, Durbin has transformed the shape of his offensive game. Groundballs have become line drives and fly balls. Extra-base hits have started to follow. For the first time in Boston, he looks remarkably close to the hitter the Red Sox believed they were acquiring. The results reflected his early struggles. Durbin posted a 45 wRC+ in March and April, followed by a 41 mark in May. He was still putting the ball in play, still showing the bat-to-ball ability that had defined his climb through the minors, but too many plate appearances ended the same way: a ground ball, a routine out, and another missed opportunity. Then June arrived. Suddenly, the same player looked different. Durbin hit .309 with a .600 slugging percentage and a 146 wRC+ during the month, emerging as one of Boston's most productive hitters. The obvious question is whether this is simply a hot streak, or something he can actually build upon. Caleb Durbin Has Made Groundballs Disappear The most important change in Durbin’s profile is found in the type of contact he is producing. Players with his skill set often walk a narrow path offensively. Without elite raw power, they must create value through contact quality, athleticism, and smart swing decisions. Making contact alone is not enough; the contact has to matter. For much of the season, it did not. During March and April, 61 percent of Durbin’s balls in play were hit on the ground. While ground balls can benefit players with speed, they also limit offensive upside. It is difficult to drive the baseball when most of your contact never leaves the infield dirt. Luckily, we've started to see a paradigm shift here in June. Month GB% FB% LD% HR/FB Mar/Apr 61.0% 25.6% 13.4% 4.8% May 50.0% 33.3% 16.7% 0.0% June 32.7% 46.9% 20.4% 17.4% There's nothing hiding in that data. The ground balls steadily disappeared, the line drives increased, and the fly balls nearly doubled. That alone is a change worth celebrating, before we even get into the actual results. His average launch angle climbed from 5.1 degrees in March and April to 17.9 degrees in June. His barrel rate increased from 1.2 percent to 6.0 percent. His hard-hit rate moved in the same direction. At long last, he's hitting like a major leaguer again. Better Discipline Begets Better Contact What makes this breakout particularly intriguing is how it happened. Many hitters attempt to unlock power by swinging harder and accepting more strikeouts as the cost of doing business. Durbin has taken a different path: His strikeout rate actually dropped to 10.3 percent in June. Month Z-Swing% Swing% Contact% Bat Speed Mar/Apr 56.7% 41.9% 86.5% 67.9 mph May 64.1% 46.7% 81.7% 68.2 mph June 74.1% 52.1% 88.1% 69.8 mph Durbin is swinging more often than he was earlier in the season, but not because he has become reckless (his chase rates have remained under control). Instead, he has become significantly more aggressive against strikes. You don't need me to tell you this, but more aggressive swings at the right pitches lead to better contact. Better contact leads to more damage. And when a hitter can create that damage without sacrificing contact ability, their offensive outlook changes. What This Means For Durbin, Red Sox Going Forward The most important question is not whether Caleb Durbin can maintain a .600 slugging percentage. Truth be told, he he probably can't. Very few hitters can sustain that level of production over a full season, and his expected metrics suggest some regression is likely. However, Durbin’s improvement is supported by better swing decisions, increased bat speed, a dramatically different batted-ball profile, and expected metrics that are moving in the same direction as the results. Those are precisely the indicators teams trust when evaluating whether a breakout is real. Durbin has always possessed the contact skills -- he proved it last year in Milwaukee with the Brewers. It took him a while to find his way after that shocking trade in February, but it appears he's finally found a way to marry impact with those innate talents. If he sustains it, that trade may not age quite as poorly as we've all feared. View the full article

Grand Slams? We got 'em in pairs! Flirtations with the cycle? We got those too! How about a perfect day at the plate for an emerging prospect? Check! An exciting debut, a shutout, a walk-off, and a blowout so bad the first half champs had to pitch their catcher. Tuesday saw a little bit of everything on the way to a 6-1 night for the Brewers' system. Transactions: Nashville Sounds activated RHP Blake Holub from the 7-day injured list. C Andrick Nava assigned to Nashville Sounds from Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Nashville Sounds transferred C Andrick Nava to the Development List. OF Alexander Frias assigned to Wilson Warbirds from ACL Brewers. OF Gerlyn Payano assigned to ACL Brewers from DSL Brewers Blue. Also, it’s been reported, but not yet official, that Peter Strzelecki has signed a minor league contract with the Brewers and will return to Nashville. Game Action: Nashville pre-game media notes Nashville 12, Gwinnett (Braves) 5 Box Score Via the Sounds, game details, and we encourage readers to always review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Brock Wilken, Tyler Black Record First Multi-Slam Game in Sounds History - Luis Lara Sets Career-High with Five Hits Nashville flexed their muscle Tuesday night, routing the Gwinnett Stripers 12-5 thanks to explosive late-game heroics. Trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the Sounds' bats erupted to completely flip the script. Brock Wilken delivered the defining blow of the rally, launching a devastating grand slam to swing the momentum permanently in Nashville's favor. Check out Wilken’s slam courtesy of the Sounds’ X account: Not to be outdone, Tyler Black punctuated the offensive showcase with another grand slam in the eighth inning, putting the game completely out of reach: For two guys who have had their shares of ups and downs, it was really cool to see Wilken and Black share this rare feat together. But there’s more! Luis Lara’s bat finally reawakened. Entering play Tuesday, Lara was slashing just .174/.309/.174 in June. Lara made that look like a distant memory while going a flawless 5-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. You can check out all five hits in rapid succession here. Meanwhile, catcher Jeferson Quero delivered an electric performance of his own, falling just a double shy of the cycle. Quero went 4-for-5, launching a solo home run in the eighth: Quero’s triple, the fifth of his professional career, just missed going out to straight away center as well. While the monumental power display stole the show, the Sounds' bullpen did its job to quiet the Stripers and secure the victory. After Gwinnett put up four runs in the top of the fifth against starter Thomas Pannone, the bullpen took over and shut Gwinnett down. Gerson Garabito earned the win with two scoreless, one-hit innings of relief. Drew Rom and Easton McGee also chipped in combining to close out the final three frames with just an unearned run allowed. RHP Lyon Richardson (2-2, 4.54 ERA in AAA with Louisville and Nashville) is scheduled to make his first start for Nashville on Wednesday. Richardson, a former second round pick of the Reds, only joined the Brewers’ organization earlier in June. Biloxi pre-game media notes Biloxi 5, Montgomery (Rays) 1 Box Score As always, you are encouraged to read the official round-up from the team’s site: Gillis, Offense Lead Shuckers to Win in Second-Half Opener - Fischer hits 3rd home run in 5 Double-A games with sky-scraping shot Biloxi opened the second half of their Southern League season with an impressive and complete victory over Montgomery on Tuesday night. The new look Shuckers' offense was clicking on all cylinders with the team pounding out 13 hits, with everyone but Mark Coley II collecting at least one hit. Catcher Darrien Miller led the charge with a 3-for-4 night and an RBI. Josh Adamczewski had a two-hit day including this run scoring double, courtesy of the Biloxi X account: Adamczewski has hit safely in all five games since his promotion to AA. So has his teammate Andrew Fischer who launched his 3rd home run in five games at the level: Watching these two seamlessly fit into the Biloxi lineup to support has been really exciting so far. It no longer feels like Jesús Made or Blake Burke have to do the heavy lifting, and the Shuckers' lineup suddenly feels so much deeper. Other players in the Shuckers lineup are coming around too. Mike Boeve extended his hit streak to seven games with a two-hit night, and Jacob Hurtubise also had two hits and drove in a pair. On the mound, the Shuckers got a strong performance from starter Tanner Gillis who threw six scoreless innings. Gillis struck out four, allowing just two hits and two walks to improve to 3-3 on the season. Yorman Galindez (0-2, 10.13 ERA) will take the mound for Biloxi on Wednesday night. Wisconsin pre-game media notes Wisconsin 5, Cedar Rapids (Twins) 0 Box Score Rattlers Run Winning Streak to Three with 5-0 Shutout - Owens strikes out eight over five scoreless innings Wisconsin secured a dominant 5-0 shutout victory over Cedar Rapids on Tuesday night at Neuroscience Group Field. Strong pitching and a single, explosive inning on offense were the winning formula for the Rattlers, who improved their second half record to 3-0. The Timber Rattlers' pitching staff was completely in control, holding the Kernels' offense to just three hits and one walk while racking up 11 strikeouts. Starter Braylon Owens picked up the win with eight strikeouts over five scoreless innings. Owens’ lowered his ERA to 3.84 with his superb performance. Multi-inning scoreless appearances from Garrett Hodges and Peyton Niksch slammed the door on the thought of any sort of Cedar Rapids rally. The bats were quiet on both sides until the bottom of the fourth inning when Wisconsin broke the game wide open. The rally started innocently, with Eric Bitonti drawing a walk and Tayden Hall poking a single to center. After a balk advanced both runners, Daniel Guilarte broke the scoreless tie with a sharp RBI single to left field. Juan Baez followed with an RBI single of his own to make it 2-0. After a Blayberg Diaz single and a walk to Josiah Ragsdale loaded the bases, Marco Dinges delivered the knockout punch. Dinges grounded a single to center field to score two, with a throwing error from the centerfielder allowing Ragsdale to come home, capping off a five-run frame that put the game entirely out of reach. Check out all the highlights on the Rattlers’ YouTube page: RHP Josh Knoth (0-0, 2.70 ERA) toes the rubber for Wisconsin in game two on Wednesday. Wilson pre-game media notes Wilson 15, Fredericksburg (Nationals) 2 Box Score Wilson Blasts Fredericksburg in Series Opener Wilson put on an absolute offensive clinic Tuesday night, crushing the first half champions Fredericksburg 15-2. The Warbirds' lineup was relentless, racking up 12 hits and capitalizing on a dumbfounding 16 walks issued by Nationals pitching to hang some crooked numbers in the linescore through the first six innings. Ultimately things got so bad for Fredericksburg that only a position player on the mound could shut down the Warbirds’ offense late in the game. Shortstop Brady Ebel was the draw stirring the drink for the Warbirds' offense, finishing the game just a triple shy of the cycle. He put together a spectacular 4-for-5 performance at the plate, driving in four runs and scoring three times. His night was highlighted by a two-run blast which you can see courtesy of the Wilson X account: Alexander Frias made his Carolina League debut as the designated hitter and immediately made his presence felt. Frias went 1-for-5, recording his first hit, first run, and first RBI in Wilson. However, his biggest impact came on the basepaths, where he collected three stolen bases. Leftfielder Nick Monile recorded professional highs with three walks and four runs scored. Slugger Jose Anderson knocked in two runs with a double and a single. Anderson leads the Carolina league with 52 RBI on the season. Juan Ortuno knocked in a run and stole his 20th base. Leadoff man Handelfry Encarnacion was on base three times and also scored three runs. The hit parade was so long, and the highlights so numerous, I recommend you click through the video highlights here, rather than link each play individually. Not to be overshadowed by the offense, the Warbirds got two solid performances on the mound as well. Starter Jarrette Bonet had his best start since May 22, working five innings of two-run ball with five strikeouts. Hayden Robinson backed up Bonet with four scoreless innings to earn his professional save. It was the first appearance of the season for Robinson where he did not walk a batter or allow a run. Wilson moves to 38-32 on the season and 2-2 in the second half. RHP Miqueas Mercedes (1-1, 5.13 ERA) heads to the hill for Wilson on Wednesday. ACL Brewers 2, ACL Angels 1, seven innings as scheduled Box Score The ACL Brewers showcased exactly how to maximize limited offensive opportunities on Tuesday, scraping out a dramatic 2-1 walk-off victory over the ACL Angels despite mustering only two hits all evening. The foundation of the victory was built on a quality start on the mound. Joan Pena settled in beautifully after giving up a lone run in the first inning, grinding through six strong frames. He scattered just three hits and struck out four, successfully working around four walks to keep the Angels' lineup at bay and give his team a chance. Offensively, Milwaukee relied entirely on the long ball to manufacture their runs against the Angels’ pitching staff. After trailing for the first four innings, Brailyn Antunez hit a solo home run to tie the game in the bottom of the 4th. It was Antunez' 7th homer of the year, which is best on the team. The game remained deadlocked until the bottom of the seventh, when Juan Martinez stepped up and delivered a clutch, walk-off solo home run to lead off the bottom of the 7th. The win gets the ACL Brewers back above .500 with a 20-19 record. Outfielder Gerlyn Payano made his stateside debut as the designated hitter, 0-for-2 with a walk. DSL Cleveland Goryl DSL 12, Brewers Blue 8 Box Score Despite a strong start and some early offensive fireworks, the DSL Brewers Blue couldn't hold off a relentless late-game surge from DSL Cleveland Goryl, falling 12-8 in a wild, high-scoring affair on Tuesday. The Brewers came out swinging, building a quick 4-0 lead by the end of the second inning. Third baseman Diego Frontado was the star for the Brewers, finishing the day 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a double that sparked a two-run first inning. The 17-year-old Venezuelan now sports a 1.064 OPS with the completion of Tuesday’s game. First baseman Eryks Rivero (2-for-3, RBI) and right fielder Angel Gonzalez (2-for-4, RBI) also put together multi-hit performances, each ripping a double of their own. Catcher Sebastian Franeites also chipped in two singles and an RBI on the day. Things began to unravel for the Brewers in the bottom of the 5th inning. After starter Luis Aguayo threw two clean innings to stake the Brewers to their early lead, the Brewers' bullpen simply couldn't find the strike zone. Wilmer Duarte (2.2 IP 4ER 6BB) and Jordy Brache (2.1 IP 8ER 5BB) took the brunt of the damage, surrendering all 12 runs and issuing 11 walks in their combined five innings. Cleveland battered the Brewers for multi-run rallies in each of their last four innings, flipping the score from a four-run Brewers' lead into a five-run deficit heading into the 9th inning. While the offense battled to the end with a pair of one-run rallies in the 8th and 9th innings, it was simply too deep of a hole for the Brewers to climb out of. The loss drops the Brewers Blue to 12-5 on the season. DSL Brewers Gold 3, DSL Pirates Gold 1 Box Score The DSL Brewers Gold took care of business on Tuesday morning, leaning on rock-solid pitching and just enough offense to secure a 3-1 victory over the DSL Pirates Gold. Paul Hoff was dialed in on the mound for the Brewers in his longest outing of the season. Hoff (5IP 2H 0R 1BB 5K) silenced the Pirates’ bats on his way to his first win of the season. The Brewers made the most of their five hits on the day and then benefitted from some poor Pirates’ defense. The scoring opened in the bottom of the 3rd inning when Romano Donato wreaked havoc on the basepaths. After reaching on a fielding error, Donato immediately stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Pirates' catcher. Shortstop Ricki Moneys then stepped up and delivered a clutch RBI single to center, bringing Donato home and putting the Brewers up 1-0. Milwaukee found their insurance runs in the bottom of the 6th. Left fielder Angeni Fernandez ignited the rally by lacing a triple to lead off the frame. Following back-to-back walks to Moises Salazar and Carlos Done that loaded the bases, Jefer Lista put the ball in play and reached on a critical fielding error by the Pirates' third baseman. The miscue allowed both Fernandez and Salazar to score, extending the Brewers' lead to 3-0. The Brewers' early execution and ability to capitalize on Pittsburgh's sloppy defense proved to be the difference-maker. The Brewers, now 5-12 with the win, proved to be the true “gold” standard while the Pirates proved to be mere fools’ gold in defeat. What an epic night across the system! Wednesday will see just one rookie ball game in the morning in the DSL. Wisconsin has a day game at noon central. The rest of the full-season squads will get started in the evening, as per usual. 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

As the top four affiliates opened the second half Tuesday, they combined to go 2-2 with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas falling to Sugar Land 12-5, the Double-A San Antonio Missions cruising past Arkansas 7-1, the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps allowed just one hit in a 6-2 triumph over Lake County and the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm lost to Fresno 6-4. For a recap of all the player moves from recent days, check out this article. Padres Minor-League Transactions San Diego Padres optioned C Blake Hunt to El Paso Chihuahuas. San Diego Padres recalled LHP JP Sears from El Paso Chihuahuas. RHP Andrew Moore assigned to El Paso Chihuahuas from San Antonio Missions. 1B Romeo Sanabria assigned to El Paso Chihuahuas from San Antonio Missions. SS Dylan Grego assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from El Paso Chihuahuas. El Paso Chihuahuas sent RHP Daison Acosta on a rehab assignment to Fort Wayne TinCaps. San Antonio Missions activated SS Wyatt Hoffman from the 60-day injured list. OF Jake Cunningham assigned to San Antonio Missions from Fort Wayne TinCaps. RHP Bernard Jose assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from San Antonio Missions. RHP Tucker Musgrove assigned to San Antonio Missions from Fort Wayne TinCaps. RHP Clay Edmondson assigned to San Antonio Missions from Fort Wayne TinCaps. RHP Nick Falter assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm. RHP Bryan Balzer assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm. RHP Winyer Chourio assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm. OF Ryan Wideman assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm. 3B Kerrington Cross assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm. RHP Isaiah Lowe assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from Fort Wayne TinCaps. RHP Will Koger assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm. 1B Luke Cantwell assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm. RHP Luis Germán assigned to ACL Padres from Fort Wayne TinCaps. RHP Jeferson Villabona assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from Fort Wayne TinCaps. RHP Isaiah Lowe assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from Fort Wayne TinCaps. LHP Zack Qin assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres. RHP Jordan Valenzuela assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres. RHP Lan-Hong Su assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres. LHP Joseph Herrera assigned to ACL Padres from Lake Elsinore Storm. Chihuahuas Walk 13 In Loss As German Marquez Appears In Relief In a stat line straight out of Nuke LaLoosh lore, the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas walked 13, a season high, and struck out 15, also a season high, in dropping a 12-5 decision to the host Sugar Land Space Cowboys to open the second half of the Pacific Coast League schedule. Padres right-handed starter German Marquez made a brief relief appearance in his fifth rehab game as he comes back from right forearm irritation. Marquez came on with one out and one on in the second inning and the Chihuahuas up 1-0. He allowed the inherited runner to score and gave up another in 1⅔ innings, giving up three hits while walking two and striking out three. The run he gave up came on a homer in the third inning. Marcos Castanon hit a three-run homer, drove in four and had two hits, as did Carlos Rodriguez and Pablo Reyes. While Marquez got the loss, the damage done by the Space Cowboys came off right-hander Michael Flynn, who was tagged for five third-inning runs on four hits and two walks while getting just one out, putting Sugar Land up 7-1. Castanon hit his three-run blast, his 11th homer of the year, in a four-run fifth inning, but the Space Cowboys pulled two of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth to go up 9-5. Chihuahuas right-hander Triston McKenzie gave up three runs while walking five in two-thirds of an inning. EP_0623.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Mason McCoy 5 1 1 0 0 0 Carlos Rodríguez 4 1 2 1 1 0 Pablo Reyes 4 1 2 0 1 2 Marcos Castañon 5 1 2 4 0 1 Bryce Johnson 5 0 1 0 0 2 Nick Pratto 4 0 0 0 0 1 Clay Dungan 3 0 0 0 0 1 Nate Mondou 3 1 1 0 1 0 Anthony Vilar 2 0 0 0 2 1 Totals 35 5 9 5 5 8 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Logan Gillaspie 1.1 1 1 1 0 2 0 Germán Márquez 1.2 3 1 1 2 3 1 Michael Flynn 0.1 4 5 5 2 1 0 Justin Yeager 1.2 2 2 2 2 4 1 Andrew Moore 2.0 0 0 0 2 4 0 Triston McKenzie 0.2 1 3 3 5 0 0 Ty Adcock 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals 8.0 11 12 12 13 15 2 Tirso Ornelas Homers Twice, Eric Yost Leads 2-Hitter For Missions Tirso Ornelas homered twice, while right-hander Eric Yost and two relievers combined to allow just two hits as the Double-A San Antonio Missions jumped out to a 4-0 lead and went on to a 7-1 triumph over the host Arkansas Travelers to open the second half. Albert Fabian also homered as part of a two-hit, two-RBI night, while Ryan Jackson also had a pair of hits and drove in two and Kai Roberts had two hits and scored twice. Ornelas hit a two-run homer in the first inning and a solo shot in the third, giving him 10 homers. Fabian's blast was his fifth this year. Yost retired the first nine Travelers of the game before giving up a leadoff homer in the fourth inning and then gave up a one-out double in the sixth. But those would be the only hits against the Missions. Right-hander Sadrac Franco struck out five of the six hitters he faced in his two innings and right-hander Johan Moreno was perfect in the ninth, striking out one. For Yost, it was the second straight start in which he went six innings and allowed two hits. SA1_0623.mp4 SA2_0623.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Ryan Jackson 5 0 2 2 0 1 Francisco Acuna 5 1 1 0 0 0 Tirso Ornelas 5 2 3 3 0 0 Jake Cunningham 4 0 0 0 0 2 Braedon Karpathios 4 0 0 0 0 1 Luis Verdugo 3 1 1 0 0 0 Albert Fabian 4 1 2 2 0 1 Kai Roberts 4 2 2 0 0 1 Brendan Durfee 3 0 0 0 1 0 Totals 37 7 11 7 1 6 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Eric Yost 6.0 2 1 1 3 3 1 Sadrac Franco 2.0 0 0 0 0 5 0 Johan Moreno 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals 9.0 2 1 1 3 9 1 Matthew Watson Spearheads 1-Hitter As TinCaps Prevail Right-hander Matthew Watson, right-hander Will Varmette and left-hander Braian Salazar combined on a one-hitter, while Kavares Tears broke a sixth-inning tie with a two-run single as the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps dropped the host Lake County Captains 6-2. Watson gave up the only hit during his six-inning start, a homer leading off the fourth inning by Jace LaViolette, and two of his four walks came in the second inning, leading to another run. Watson did strike out three in earning his first professional win in five decisions since debuting this season. Varmette followed with a perfect seventh and Salazar finished the final two innings, walking one and striking out four for the 18th one-hitter in TinCaps history. The TinCaps were down 2-1 entering the top of the sixth, when they batted around and scored four times. After Rosman Verdugo singled home Alex McCoy to tie the game, Tears singled to center, bringing in newcomer Kerrington Cross and Verdugo for a 4-2 lead. Two outs later, Ryan Wideman, another promotion, singled Tears to third and Justin DeCriscio drove home Tears to make it 5-2. The TinCaps added their final run in the sixth as Cross and Verdugo drew one-out walks, then pulled off a double steal. One out later, Zach Evans walked to load the bases and Kasen Wells lined a single to left to bring in Cross. FW_0623.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Ryan Wideman 5 0 1 0 0 2 Justin DeCriscio 5 0 1 1 0 0 Lamar King Jr. 4 0 0 0 1 2 Alex McCoy 4 2 1 0 1 1 Kerrington Cross 2 2 2 0 3 0 Rosman Verdugo 4 1 1 1 1 0 Kavares Tears 4 1 2 2 1 2 Zach Evans 3 0 0 1 1 0 Kasen Wells 4 0 1 1 1 1 Totals 35 6 9 6 9 8 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Matthew Watson 6.0 1 2 2 4 3 1 Will Varmette 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Braian Salazar 2.0 0 0 0 1 4 0 Totals 9.0 1 2 2 5 7 1 6-Run First Inning Dooms Storm; George Bilecki Goes Deep George Bilecki homered and drove in two runs, but the host Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm couldn't overcome a six-run first inning in a 6-4 loss to the Fresno Grizzlies. Storm right-handed starter Jesus Castro was roughed up in the first inning, giving up six runs (three earned) on two hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts, the only outs he would record on the night. Storm shortstop Jorge Quintana booted a grounder by the second batter of the game, contributing to the three unearned runs. The Storm didn't get going until the sixth inning, when Bilecki hit his fourth homer of the season to make it 6-1. In the seventh, Truitt Madonna had an RBI double, Quintana a run-scoring groundout and Bilecki drove in the final run with a double. Bilecki, Madonna and Jose Verdugo each had two hits. LE_0623.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Dawson Willis 5 0 1 0 0 3 Jose Verdugo 4 0 2 0 0 2 Qrey Lott 3 1 1 0 0 2 Yoiber Ocopio 4 0 0 0 0 1 Truitt Madonna 4 1 2 1 0 1 Bradley Frye 4 1 1 0 0 0 Jorge Quintana 4 0 1 1 0 1 George Bilecki 4 1 2 2 0 1 Conner Westenburg 2 0 0 0 2 1 Totals 34 4 10 4 2 12 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jesus A. Castro 0.2 2 6 3 2 2 0 Jeferson Villabona 2.1 1 0 0 1 3 0 Daichi Moriki 2.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 Carson Swilling 2.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Vicarte Domingo 2.0 1 0 0 2 1 0 Totals 9.0 5 6 3 6 10 0 Padres Mission Top 20 Prospect Performance Ethan Salas: On injured list Kash Mayfield: DNP Miguel Mendez: DNP Kruz Schoolcraft: DNP Ryan Wideman: 1-for-5, 2 K Jorge Quintana: 1-for-4, RBI, K Ty Harvey: On injured list Kale Fountain: Injured, out for season Braedon Karpathios: 0-for-4, K Lamar King Jr.: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K Jagger Haynes: DNP Alex McCoy: 1-for-4, 2 R, BB, K Truitt Madonna: 2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI, K Tucker Musgrove: DNP Garrett Hawkins: DNP Michael Salina: DNP Eric Yost: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K (W) Rosman Verdugo: 1-for-4, R, RBI, BB, SB Bryan Balzer: DNP Deivid Coronil: DNP View the full article