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When the Chicago Cubs signed Alex Bregman this past winter, there was an immediate thought that pushing Matt Shaw to the bench and, subsequently, into a utility role, would help to boost a reserve group that had been quite lackluster during Jed Hoyer's term as president of baseball operations. That sentiment itself was something of an oversimplification, but 2026 has shown us that it had at least a kernel of truth embedded within it. Hoyer's time atop the Cubs' front office has been anything but black-and-white. While the choices made under his stewardship merit their own lengthy discussion, he's largely been adept at finding value for certain spots, like Michael Busch at first base or a host of reclamation arms for the bullpen, while struggling in other respects. One of those latter components has been his consistent inability to build out a bench. Consider, for a moment, some of the players we've seen on the pine at Wrigley Field since 2023: Mike Tauchman (751 PA, 109 wRC+) Patrick Wisdom (476 PA, 97 wRC+) Miles Mastrobuoni (255 PA, 57 wRC+) Trey Mancini (263 PA, 75 wRC+) Justin Turner (191 PA, 71 wRC+) Jon Berti (107 PA, 42 wRC+) David Bote (48 PA, 104 wRC+) Vidal Bruján (47 PA, 42 wRC+) There was also a smattering of small-sample names like Edwin Ríos, Garrett Cooper, Willi Castro, Gage Workman, Carlos Santana, and two turns of Nicky Lopez at various stages. To say nothing of the rotating cast of characters that have been utilized as depth behind the plate (Tucker Barnhart, Tomás Nido, Luis Torrens, etc.). Context and associated mileage varies for each — Tauchman, for example, was closer to a regular than a true bench player — but it otherwise lands as a wide net of past-prime, post-hype names from which the Cubs were hoping to get some level of contribution and got very little outside of defensive versatility. That's an important note within all of this, too. Hoyer and company have often sacrificed production from their bench in favor of movable pieces that lacked offensive tools. There's a certain logic in that mindset when you're utilizing maybe the last piece or two on your roster, but when the collective reserves over the last handful of years are mutually exclusive with any notable offensive contribution, you run into the types of problems which this organization has experienced. The good news to all of this is that those issues appear to be at least moderately behind the Cubs in 2026. There are four names now locked into bench roles for at least the short-term: Shaw, Miguel Amaya, Michael Conforto, and Pedro Ramírez. From a logistical standpoint, that's a group that covers the top objective in your reserves in that they're able to cover each position on the field. More importantly, though, it's a quartet that provides actual value off the bench. From your reserves, you're not necessarily looking for loud offensive production. You want players who can help the team to remain stable defensively while keeping them afloat offensively in the event of an injury or a starter's singular off day. With Seiya Suzuki staving off a longer-term injury over the weekend, the Cubs are finally in a position where they appear to have that. Shaw is central to this given his increasing flexibility around the diamond. He's logged time at first base, second base, third base, and each of the three outfield spots, including 16 appearances in right field. While his bat remains a relative deficiency, his penchant for at least avoiding strikeouts has his wRC+ afloat at 105. It's not a completely dissimilar profile from someone like Ramírez, whose first 40-ish plate appearances have yielded identical 8.1 percent walk and strikeout rates and a 108 wRC+. The real offensive value off the bench has come in the form of Conforto and Amaya. Conforto's June is off to a rough start, but he's still turned in a .216 isolated power figure and a 118 wRC+ across more than 100 plate appearances to date. He's also walked at a 14 percent clip, which has compounded with his power output to compensate for a strikeout rate over 30 percent. Amaya, meanwhile, has an on-base percentage over .350 and a 109 wRC+ when stepping in for Carson Kelly behind the plate. That's a group that Craig Counsell can work with. Save for someone like Tauchman in the last few years, the Cubs have been forced to deploy an extensive collection of bodies capable of handling a glove but not so much a bat. Even if hasn't come together with complete intention — Ramírez was called up upon an injury to Shaw, Conforto emerged from a group of four potential throw-it-at-the-wall candidates in the spring — the result is a bench that finally looks respectable in comparison with what the Cubs have worked with in the past few seasons. Jed Hoyer doesn't have a ton of recent wins to his name considering the state of the pitching staff and absence of early returns on Alex Bregman, but the bench is certainly something for him to hang his hat on. View the full article

For the 2026 season, Fish On First will provide weekly reports on the Miami Marlins farm system, covering all levels. This mid-June edition of the Fish On First Prospects Report might be our most detailed of the year thus far, including some key injury updates near the bottom of the article. This report covers the games played from June 9-15. Triple-A Jacksonville Although the walks do remain an issue, Karson Milbrandt had a strong second start in Jacksonville on Saturday, going five innings, allowing one run on three hits, three walks and struck out seven. His fastball topped out at 97.0 mph and averaged 94.3 mph. He had five whiffs on that pitch and three of his seven strikeouts came on the fastball. Milbrandt generated three of his strikeouts with his sweeper and also threw his slider and curveball. In a recent interview on the Call-Up Podcast, Milbrandt said that he has added a kick-change to his arsenal, though he has yet to use it in Triple-A. Since being optioned to Jacksonville, Graham Pauley is slashing .254/.361/.535/.897 with four home runs, 10 RBI and a 135 wRC+. Marlins third basemen this season at the big league level have combined for a 43 wRC+, the worst in baseball. Pauley's defense has never been the question, but he needs to hit at the highest level so he can be playable. Another opportunity should be coming for him soon if he maintains this pace. A third baseman coming out of the MLB Draft, Gage Miller has mostly been bumped to second base to make room for Pauley. He is now slashing .313/.421/.469/.890 with one home run, six RBI and a 144 wRC+ in Triple-A. Andrew Pintar is quietly having a great season. After a slow start, Pintar is now hitting .260/.366/.420/.786 with six home runs, 31 RBI, 17 stolen bases and a 114 wRC+. Outfield depth in the organization is as good as it's been in years, so for Pintar to receive a call-up this season may require an injury to either Jakob Marsee or Esteury Ruiz. Double-A Pensacola Behind solid starting pitching from some unheralded arms, the Wahoos enjoyed a successful week. After having their opener rained out, Pensacola split a doubleheader before taking three of the next four against the Clingstones to improve to 32-31. They are now within one game of the lead in a tightly contested Southern League South division. During the week, Pensacola starters gave up just 10 runs in 30 ⅓ innings (2.99 ERA). On the season, the Wahoos staff as a whole owns a 4.42 ERA, third-lowest in the Southern League. In today’s baseball reality, soft-tossing lefties are becoming a thing of the past. Luis Palacios represents one of few surviving members of this craft and it was on full display this week against Columbus. He worked five innings, allowing just one hit while striking out two and inducing nine ground outs. All of that was accomplished on just 53 pitches. The longest-tenured member of the Marlins organization, Palacios has been doing his thing, throwing strikes and getting ground balls since 2017. Simply put, the guy doesn’t walk anyone. Year over year, he is one of the best arms in MiLB at commanding the strike zone. This season, Palacios has uncharacteristically walked 25 batters in 51 ⅓ innings. This can perhaps partially be attributed to completely missing spring training due to visa issues. Despite the early-season woes, he bounced back well and is keeping his walk rate more than manageable. He’s doing the same with his ERA, which sits at 2.18 (seventh-lowest in the Southern League). When he’s at his best, Palacios profiles as an innings-eating machine capable of shutting down opposing offenses at a lightning-fast pace, but with limited velocity and swing-and-miss stuff, there is little room for error in his game. Despite being the complete and polar opposite of the Marlins’ archetype pitcher, the 25-year-old southpaw has performed well so far this season. Especially in an organization struggling for pitching depth, he at least deserves an extended look at the Triple-A level. As he comes up on another year of minor league free agent eligibility, Palacios getting a cup of coffee in the majors would certainly be a feel-good story for a player who has spent his entire professional career with the same team. It was another good series for Juan Matheus. The 22-year-old infielder who continues to project plus power from within a small package. In this series, the 5’9”, 155 pounder went 5-for-18 with two home runs and seven RBI. His team-best OPS rose to .830. Offensive success has been sporadic at times this season for Matheus, but overall, his translation to the upper minors is going pretty well. He’s swinging a lot both at strikes and at balls out of the zone, but his ability to get the bat around with lightning quickness has allotted him longer ABs and caused opposing pitchers to come further in the zone. Matheus continues to favor his pull side but he’s also found some success up the middle with the Wahoos as he is going through the box at a 30.8% clip. He hasn’t walked much against Double-A stuff but his penchant for contact more than makes up for it. Thought to be a distant third piece in the trade that sent Ryan Weathers to New York, Matheus has quickly made a name for himself with a loud bat that has looked the part more often than not against the toughest competition he’s ever faced. This is a name that is continuing to trend up in the organization. High-A Beloit It was another tough week for the Sky Carp in the standings. After opening their series against Quad Cities with a win, the team dropped four of their next five including their last three straight. Particularly painful was Saturday’s game in which they squandered an early 6-0 lead and lost 12-6. Beloit’s pitching continues to be a nightmare: their team ERA has now swelled to 5.97. They own a minus-26 run differential. A 22-year-old infielder capable of playing multiple positions, Emilio Barreras has done nothing but hit since coming to Miami as an eighth-round pick last year. Promoted to the High-A level on June 3, he is slashing .395/.432/.553 with the Sky Carp. This past week, Barreras went 10-for-17 and ran his hit streak to nine games en route to being named our Prospect of the Week. Coming out of the draft, Barreras was highly touted for his bat-to-ball skills which allotted him a .311/.399/.402 slash as a three-year starter at Grand Canyon University. Early in his pro career, he is proving that skill set can translate. With a patient approach and slashy bat built for a good average, Barreras can go with any pitch type and hit to all fields. He is also perfectly content taking a walk, which he has done more than he’s struck out so far this season. Scouts see in Barreras the hands, range and footwork to stick at shortstop, or the very least, the ability to hold down second base, keeping him at a premium position. Barreras isn’t slow, but needs to work on his timing mechanics while on the bases. If he’s able to develop in that capacity, he will add another layer to his game. So far this season, he has stolen three bags and been caught six times. Overall, Barreras, the self-described “pest,” could carve out a nice career as a top-of-the-order run to be driven in or a bottom-of-the-order guy who will turn the lineup over. If he keeps doing what he’s doing as he moves through the levels, he is a safe player. As such, the floor is decently high. Brandon Compton, the Marlins’ second-round pick last season, needs to find offensive consistency to carry him to a potential ceiling of a starting corner outfielder. After a disappointing May in which he recorded just 13 hits, Compton has been absolutely on fire to start June. The latest exports from Compton’s bat were a 10-hit series against the River Bandits and he is beginning to turn raw power that he was highly touted for when drafted into game power. Four of his salvos during that span were home runs, bringing him to seven on the season. With great raw strength, he is showcasing an ability to turn on virtually anything and drive it to his pull side. Compton has also been very selective against High-A stuff, proven by an extremely high 24% walk rate. The only thing inhibiting Compton’s game is an equally high K rate of 34%. A man of extremes, Compton isn’t swinging at bad pitches, but he is trying to force pull-side contact often leading to overzealous hacks and a bit of unbalance in his follow through. Simplifying his mechanics and being able to cover more plate will be paramount for the 22-year-old as he continues to develop. For now, this was an extremely encouraging week and span for Compton. If he can limit the swings-and-misses and start to use more of the field, he'll access the best version of himself. Low-A Jupiter After a hot start in the FCL, Edgardo De Leon was promoted to Low-A, where he is doing a lot of the same, slashing .350/.400/.700/1.100 with two home runs, six RBI and a 174 wRC+. He has six total home runs this season between both levels. In 2025, he struck out 28.8% of the time, but so far, he has cut down the strikeout rate to 17.8% between both levels and is walking 16.8% of the time. De Leon, 19, was the third piece acquired in the trade that sent Edward Cabrera to the Chicago Cubs this past offseason. Obviously, all players are in different stages of their career, but based solely on production, De Leon takes the cake. If he keeps producing at this level, De Leon should eventually crack into our FOF Top 30 list. Luis Arana, also promoted to Low-A with De Leon, has gotten off to a great start as well. In 11 games, he is hitting .341/.491/.512/1.003 with one home run, 11 RBI and a 180 wRC+. He has stolen 17 bases between both levels. Defensively, Arana has played shortstop the most, but has gotten a fair share of reps at third base. Signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela for $30k in 2025, he projects as a shortstop long term. Carter Johnson is quietly making the case for a promotion, now slashing .250/.370/.438/.808 with seven home runs, 31 RBI and a 122 wRC+. A lot of the production should be taken with a grain of salt as this is his second full season at the level, but at this rate, he has nothing left to prove. Manuel Genao, a 20-year-old right-handed pitching prospect, has a 3.50 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 9.67 K/9 and a 2.33 BB/9 in 13 games (11 starts) this season. In his most recent start where there was Statcast data available, Genao's sinker topped out at 96.1 mph and averaged 94.6 mph. He also throws a slider, curveball, cutter, changeup and a four-seam fastball. PJ Morlando, the top pick of the 2024 Marlins draft class, has not been able to get it going, now slashing .176/.317/.283/.601 with four home runs, 22 RBI and a 77 wRC+. He is striking out 27.4% of the time. Going down to the complex league for a bit as a 21-year-old would be a tough pill to swallow, but that has to be on the table soon if he continues to show no signs of progress. FCL Marlins Another week of rookie ball brought more unusual storylines, highlighted by the FCL Marlins throwing a no-hitter and still losing the game. Jonas Uzcategui made three appearances this week and looked like the Uzcategui we have seen for most of the season in two of them before running into trouble on Monday. In his first appearance, he threw an inning without allowing a hit, though a walk eventually came around to score. Three days later, he tossed four innings and allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out two. Monday got away from him a bit as he allowed six runs on three hits and three walks. Unfortunately, that is the nature of rookie ball—one rough outing can overshadow several quality appearances because of how short the season is. Even with that start, Uzcategui has made some really big strides from last year. After a rough first month since coming stateside, Almen Tolentino has started to look like the player we saw last year in the DSL when he hit .301 with six home runs and 20 stolen bases. Over the last week, he went 5-for-16 (.312) and stole three bases, including one in each of his last three games. As the season goes on, the consistency should start to show. If it does, the Marlins could start seeing the same version of Tolentino that made such a strong impression a year ago. DSL Marlins & DSL Miami Catcher Carlos Martinez has had a very weird season, but he has made the most of every opportunity he has gotten. He has appeared in only seven games and has just 10 at-bats, but he is hitting .400 with a home run and only one strikeout. He appeared in four games this week but only received four at-bats, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk. The opportunities have been limited, but he continues to produce whenever his name is called. Last week, Evan Da Souza made his debut and ran into some trouble, but managed to escape without any damage. This week, he put that outing behind him and threw three scoreless innings while striking out five, walking two, and hitting a batter. Through his first two appearances, the control has been inconsistent, but the upside is obvious. He is definitely a player worth keeping an eye on. David Shirley entered the season as a career .297 hitter in the minors and has continued to swing the bat well, hitting .333 to start the year. This week, he went 5-for-13 (.385) with a home run. The strikeout rate has been a little high at 29%, but it is still a very small sample size. It will flatten out as he gets more at bats. He has arrived. After a rough first week of professional baseball where he hit .176 and struck out nine times in five games, Santiago Solarte broke out in a big way this week. He went 5-for-11 (.455), with most of the damage coming on Monday afternoon. The game included several firsts. He recorded his first career three-hit game and hit his first professional home run. Since that opening week, he has struck out just twice. Solarte continues to be a nightmare for opposing pitchers on the bases as well. He already has 11 stolen bases on the season and, before Monday, had stolen a base in four consecutive games. The tools that made him one of the organization's most exciting international signings are starting to show up consistently, and it looks like he is beginning to settle in after that slow start. Injuries/Rehab Kemp Alderman is back with Jacksonville after missing about a month due to a left elbow sprain. He served as their designated hitter on Tuesday. Griffin Conine and Eury Pérez are both rehabbing with the Jumbo Shrimp this week. Conine hopefully will rejoin the Marlins active roster following the series in Durham. For Pérez, he is scheduled to make multiple AAA rehab starts beginning on Thursday, when he is expected to go three to four innings and about 50 pitches. Noble Meyer (right shoulder strain) will make his second rehab start with Jupiter on Thursday. PJ Morlando exited Tuesday's Hammerheads game early soon after making a diving catch in the outfield. No word yet on the severity of the injury. This week's schedule Triple-A Jacksonville at Durham Double-A Pensacola vs. Birmingham High-A Beloit at Cedar Rapids Low-A Jupiter vs. Palm Beach FCL Marlins, DSL Marlins and DSL Miami vs. various opponents View the full article

For the second time this season, the Chicago Cubs are down their closer. Right-hander Daniel Palencia was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday by the Cubs with inflammation in his right elbow. Right-handed reliever Gavin Hollowell was called up from Triple-A Iowa. Palencia went on the 15-day IL on April 16 with a mild strain of his left oblique. It was a short stay there as he returned to the Cubs on May 3. Palencia appeared in Monday's game, pitching the ninth inning of the Cubs' 5-4 walk-off victory over the Colorado Rockies. He walked one and struck out three. The 26-year-old has a 3.46 FIP (2.70 ERA) in 19 games and 16⅔ innings, with a walk rate of 8.5% and a strikeout rate of 26.8%. Hollowell is up for the second time this season. In a one-day call-up, he appeared in the May 7 game against the Cincinnati Reds, pitching 1⅔ innings, giving up two runs on two hits, including a homer, with four walks and a strikeout. In 15 games at Iowa this year, he has a 3.63 ERA with 14 walks and 27 strikeouts in 17⅓ innings. View the full article

Fish On First LIVE discusses the atrocious production that the Marlins have been getting from Christopher Morel and Leo Jiménez and several of the internal options to take their roster spots. View the full article

The Cooper Pratt Era (such as it may be) will begin in earnest Tuesday night. The Brewers plan to start Pratt at shortstop for his major-league debut, and in making room for him on the active roster, they designated infielder Luis Rengifo for assignment. That it's Rengifo's place on the team Pratt is taking is no surprise, but it's of some interest that the veteran has been told to pack his bags, rather than being stashed away on the injured list. It looked as though Rengifo might have an injury worthy of a stint on the shelf, necessitating and facilitating Pratt's promotion. That would have kept the team's powder dry, holding onto Rengifo and keeping him in the mix with incumbent infield options Joey Ortiz, David Hamilton and Pratt, depending on how things develop from here. Instead, Rengifo is now effectively gone. That makes this move a bit more commital than it looked at first glance. Pratt is, effectively, taking over at shortstop, making (semi-)permanent the platoon of Ortiz and Hamilton at third base. This locks everything into place a little more than we might have anticipated. A roaring surge or a calamitous slump by either Ortiz or Hamilton could still change the equation. So could Jett Williams turning it on at Triple-A Nashville. Tentatively, though, it sure looks like the team plans to proceed from here with their freshly extended rookie at short and two players working in a complementary role next to him. There's a little risk here that wasn't there if and when one envisioned Rengifo landing on the injured list. It's not as easy, now, to foresee the team optioning either Ortiz or Hamilton if their performance demands it. The front office is gambling a bit, because this can no longer be an audition of a few weeks or a month. The Brewers need some mileage from Pratt, and their hopes for stabilizing the bottom end of the batting order now rest on the trio of Pratt, Ortiz and Hamilton. Rengifo could pass through waivers, given the money still owed to him, but it's unlikely that he'll have interest in going to Nashville. At this point, it seems like the Brewers can hope only to save a morsel of the money they still owe to Rengifo after signing him for $4 million over the winter. They're jettisoning him in the name of making the runway from which Pratt's career will take off as clear as possible. It was already exciting to see Pratt called up. Now, it's also intriguing, and a little bit risky. The upside for his team just rose considerably. Its floor might have dropped a bit, though. The club will hope the latter never comes into play. View the full article

The return of Kodai Senga couldn't have come at a better time for the New York Mets. The right-hander was activated from the 15-day injured list by the Mets to start Tuesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Right-handed reliever Jonathan Pintaro was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse and infielder Vidal Brujan was designated for assignment to make room on the 26-man roster for infielder Zack Short, who was claimed off waivers the day before. Senga has been out since April 28 with lumbar spine inflammation. He had made five starts with a 9.00 ERA before landing on the IL, including 13 walks in 20 innings. He made four rehab appearances, posting a 4.00 ERA with six walks and 17 strikeouts in 18 innings. Senga's return comes a day after the Mets placed right-hander Christian Scott went on the 15-day IL and a rough start by right-hander Tobias Myers that night in a 12-0 loss to the Reds. Pintaro had been called up Monday in a bullpen shuffle and pitched 3⅔ innings, allowing two runs on three hits with no walks and four strikeouts. View the full article

The Milwaukee Brewers' attempt to fill third base with Luis Rengifo was a swing and a miss. For that reason, Rengifo was designated for assignment by the Brewers on Tuesday to make room for one of their prized prospects, shortstop Cooper Pratt. The 21-year-old Pratt, Brewer Fanatic's No. 4 prospect, was officially called up to the majors from Triple-A Nashville and will make his debut in Tuesday's series opener against the Cleveland Guardians. News of Pratt being promoted came Sunday. The Brewers will be on the hook for the remainder of Rengifo's $3.5 million salary for this season unless he is claimed off waivers. The Brewers could also trade him to another team before releasing Rengifo. Rengifo, 29, had a solid seven seasons with the Los Angeles Angels as a second baseman and third baseman, peaking with a 2024 season in which he slashed .300/.347/.417 with six home runs, 30 RBIs and 24 stolen bases in just 78 games due to a wrist injury that eventually required surgery. He signed with the Brewers shortly after the Crew traded third baseman Caleb Durbin and two other infielders, Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler, to the Boston Red Sox for left-handed pitchers Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan and infielder David Hamilton. Harrison and Drohan are currently in the Brewers' starting rotation, while Hamilton has been a nice versatile piece, sliding between third base and shortstop. Hamilton, in fact, was the Opening Day third baseman, not Rengifo. Rengifo never got going offensively while playing third base as his primary position for the first time in his career. He put together a .205/.280/.254 slash line with no homers and 19 RBIs in 57 games, including 45 starts at the hot corner. Hamilton has made 24 starts there. Rengifo had a slow start to the season, with his batting average bottoming out at .125 in mid-April, only to pull that up to .188 by the end of the first full month. It peaked at .220 in mid-May, but then went down again. It was the combination of Rengifo's lack of production and the eight-year, $50.75 million contract extension the Brewers gave Pratt that led to this move. This also coincided with the first day that MLB teams could trade a player who signed a contract in the offseason. View the full article

I vividly remember the day: December 1st, 2021. I was in Jamaica for a friend's wedding, already steeped in sunny bliss, when I opened my phone and saw the news: Buxton inks 7-year extension to remain a Twin. One of the more joyful moments I can remember. As Byron Buxton plays at an MVP-level and positions himself for a second straight All-Star appearance, it can be easy to forget just how close this franchise-altering contract extension came to not happening. With the lockout looming that winter — a three-month shutdown would commence the following day, on December 2nd — there was a sense that it was now-or-never for a Buxton extension. If he were to enter his final season under contract without one in place, he was all but assured to test free agency. Those weeks leading up to the lockout were frustrating, as reports painted a picture of reasonable demands from Buxton's camp and a Twins front office that inexplicably balked at low-risk propositions. Eventually the two sides got a deal done, and it was a favorable one for club: seven years, $100 million with ambitious incentives. The definition of a team-friendly pact, but also one that satisfied Buxton's target for a nine-digit guaranteed payday. I've never been more grateful for any move this team has made. It was a total win/win that's very much been proven out as such over time. For Buxton, the peace of mind was valuable. He put together an All-Star first half in 2022 but wore down in the second half, giving way to an injury-wrecked 2023 campaign that saw him reduced to a near replacement-level player, posting below-average production as a full-time DH. At that time, Buxton's future was very much in doubt but he at least had the financial security of his guaranteed long-term deal. Of course, knowing Buxton, he wasn't going to let that security stop him from giving his all to overcome the health woes that continually plagued him. A knee surgery in the following offseason finally delivered the answer. Buxton returned to center field in 2024 and played 102 games, his most in seven years. Then he took another step forward in 2025, setting a career high with 542 plate appearances while making the All-Star team, participating in the Home Run Derby and placing 11th in the MVP voting. Here at age 32, Buxton has somehow unlocked another gear. He is near the top of the league leaderboard for home runs after popping five in the past week to push his season total to 23. He's on pace for 6.3 fWAR in over 600 plate appearances, which would easily surpass last year's personal bests. Buxton came into this season with a chip on his shoulder after placing outside of the top 10 in last year's MVP balloting, to his financial detriment. He's at no risk of that happening again if he stays on this track. He's posting elite numbers as an (almost) everyday center fielder, and if you want to talk about value to his team specifically, Buxton leads Twins position players in WAR by more than a full win. And to think, he could've been doing it all elsewhere. Can you imagine? I'll admit, I might be biased in calling Buxton's extension the best move in Twins history. He is my favorite player ever. A great person, who has never ruffled feathers and is constantly heralded by those around him. A great player, with a uniquely spectacular set of skills: elite power, speed and defense that enable him to impact games in a multitude of ways. But above all, what really differentiates Buxton from almost any player I've followed is the character and loyalty. He doesn't just talk the talk about his commitment to the Twins, he has backed it up — first by signing that team-friendly contract back in 2021, and more recently by reiterating repeatedly his desire to hold to his no-trade clause and retire a Twin. Sure, you could say similar things about a guy like Joe Mauer, who also bypassed the possibility of a bigger free agency payday by signing an extension and staying home in 2009. But for Mauer, Minnesota was just that: home. Buxton joined the Twins franchise in 2012 as a skinny teenager from Baxley, GA, with no real ties to the local community. His loyalty was built through the experiences and relationships he's made here. It's special. And if I'm being honest, it makes me feel all the more bitter toward a Twins franchise that is unwilling to reward that loyalty with a competitive effort around Buxton as he reaches his full potential in the late stage of his prime. This roster's shortcomings entering the season were plain to see, regardless of Tom Pohlad's lip service, and now we're seeing what happens as an undermanned team ventures into the heart of the season: they are predictably running aground. Maybe it'll change. Maybe the latest Pohlad figurehead will prove true to his word with a more ambitious approach to supporting the major-league roster. There are reasons for optimism. The Twins have assembled an impressive wave of young pitching talent, with several highly regarded prospects nearing the big leagues. The foundation for another competitive run is there if ownership is willing to supplement it. But hope doesn't stop the clock. Buxton turns 33 next season. As remarkable as his late-career renaissance has been, age remains undefeated. In some ways, that's the great tragedy of his career. Injuries robbed baseball fans of seeing this version of Buxton over the span of a decade. Had his body cooperated, we might be talking about a player building a Hall of Fame résumé instead of one still trying to make up for lost time. What's more frustrating is that when the Twins were at their strongest and making playoff runs over the past decade — 2019, 2020 and 2023 — Buxton was either sidelined or significantly limited. Now, at long last, we're getting the sustained, MVP-caliber version of the player everyone always imagined. The problem is that the team around him isn't holding up its end of the bargain. As a fan, that's where I find myself conflicted. More than anything, I want Buxton to retire a Twin. I want him to be remembered as one of the greatest players in franchise history and to finally experience the sustained success that has so often eluded him. But increasingly, my desire to see Byron Buxton thrive in October outweighs my desire to watch him put up monster seasons for a mediocre baseball team. That's a difficult feeling to wrestle with when your favorite player has spent his entire career showing loyalty to one organization. Yet as Buxton continues validating the best contract decision the Twins have ever made, the franchise faces a simple question: are they going to give him a real chance to finish the story he stayed here to write? View the full article

If your name is Vidal Bruján (and who knows? maybe it is!), you might want to get it in gear. The Mets have been on the waiver wire, doin' stuff. Transactions, 6/15/2026 GOING GOING COMING COMING Demoted to Syracuse Transferred from 10-Day to 60-Day Injured List Promoted from Syracuse Claimed off Waivers from DET, Not Yet Assigned Relief Pitchers Infielders Relief Pitchers Infielders Daniel Duarte Jorge Polanco Jonathan Pintaro Zack Short R/R DoB: 1996-12-04 High Level: MLB (2026) S/R DoB: 1999-11-13 High Level: MLB (2026) R/R DoB: 1997-11-07 High Level: MLB (2026) R/R DoB: 34848 High Level: MLB (2026) The exchange of Daniel Duarte in favor of Jonathan Pintaro may seem like just more back-end bullpen churn, but look a little closer and there is more to it. For instance, losing Duarte from the roster trims from team 100% of all active Mexican Mets! More importantly, Daniel has given up no runs on one hit and one walk in five innings. Eventually, you want to start treating these people like people, and reward them for their good work, you know? The absurdly long Injured List assignment of Jorge Polanco gets acknowledge for what it is, as he is transferred from the 10-Day to the 60-Day IL. FUN FACT: When Jorge was first IL'd, way back on April 18th, his assignment was backdated to April 15th. The Mets were so confident in what they expected to be the brevity of Polanco's IL stay, that they made a point to file paperwork to keep his assignment to a minimum of seven days. That was 59 days ago. Most notable is the return of Zach Short. Zach and Joey Wendle opened the 2024 season as the Mets backup infielders, but neither was able to get untracked at all. Both were gone by mid-May, opening the door for Jose Iglesias, OMG!, and utter reversal of fortune of those 2024 Mets. FUN FACT #2: Zack Short and Terrence Long each have -0.1 bWAR to their credit at baseball-reference.com in their brief tenures as Mets. This second tenure may represent a chance for Zack to break the grievous tie in the bitter Short/Long rivalry! Internal drama! FUN FACT #3: Zack hails from Kingston, NY, and he got those strong legs from winters on the slopes as much as summers on the diamond, and when he's not playing ball, he's repping Potter Brothers Ski & Snowboard Shop, sporting the gear of his hometown's family-owned sports retailer. FUN FACT #4: Zack was originally acquired by the Mets through a waiver claim from Detroit in November of 2023, and now he returns to the team ... through a waiver claim ... from Detroit. Life is odd for guys tagged and professionally pigeonholed as AAAA players like himself. The Mets have a few days to decide what to do with him. They can replace Bruján, they can wait to see if an injury arises, or they can do what the Tigers did and try to sneak him through waivers themselves. Your 2026 New York Mets Starting Pitchers Sean Manaea Tobias Myers Nolan McLean Freddy Peralta David Peterson R/L DoB: 1992-02-01 R/R DoB: 1998-08-05 R/R DoB: 2001-07-24 R/R DoB: 2996-06-04 L/L DoB: 1995-09-03 Relief Pitchers Huascar Brazobán A.J. Minter Cionel Pérez Jonathan Pintaro Brooks Raley Austin Warren Luke Weaver R/R DoB: 1989-10-15 L/L DoB: 1993-09-02 R/L DoB: 35176 R/R DoB: 1997-11-07 L/L DoB: 1988-06-29 R/R DoB: 1996-02-05 R/R DoB: 1993-08-21 Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders Devin Williams Francisco Alvarez Luís Torrens Bo Bichette Brett Baty Vidal Brujan Marcus Semien R/R DoB: 1994-09-21 R/R DoB: 2001-11-01 R/R DoB: 1996-05-02 R/R DoB: 1998-03-05 L/R DoB: 1999-11-13 S/R DoB: 1998-02-09 R/R DoB: 1990-09-17 Infielders Outfielders Mark Vientos Eric Wagaman Carson Benge A.J. Ewing MJ Melendez Juan Soto Jared Young R/R DoB: 1993-12-11 R/R DoB: 1997-08-14 L/R DoB: 2003-01-20 L/R DoB: 2004-08-10 L/R DoB: 1993-11-29 L/L DoB: 1998-10-25 L/R DoB: 1995-07-09 Also on 40-Player Roster Starting Pitchers Relief Pitchers Clay Holmes Tylor Megill Christian Scott Kodai Senga Zach Thornton Jonah Tong Alex Carrillo R/R DoB: 1993-03-27 R/R DoB: 1995-07-28 R/R DoB: 1999-06-15 L/R DoB: 1993-01-30 L/L DoB: 2002-01-17 R/R DoB: 2003-06-19 R/R DoB: 1997-06-06 Relief Pitchers Catchers Reed Garrett Justin Hagenman Tobias Myers Dedniel Núñez Jonathan Pintaro Dylan Ross Hayden Senger R/R DoB: 1993-01-02 R/R DoB: 1996-10-07 R/R DoB: 1998-08-05 R/R DoB: 1996-06-05 R/R DoB: 1997-11-07 R/R DoB: 2000-09-01 R/R DoB: 1997-04-03 Infielders Outfielders Francisco Lindor Ronny Mauricio Jorge Polanco Zack Short Nick Morabito Luis Robert, Jr. Tyrone Taylor S/R DoB: 1993-11-14 S/R DoB: 2001-04-04 S/R DoB: 1999-11-13 R/R DoB: 34848 R/R DoB: 2003-05-07 R/R DoB: 1997-08-03 R/R DoB: 1994-01-22 Your Mets Coaching Staff Manager Bench Coach Pitching Coach Hitting Coordinator Third Base Coach First Base Coach Bullpen Coach Ass't Pitching Coach Carlos Mendoza Kai Correa Justin Willard Jeff Albert Tim Leiper Gilbert Gomez José Rosado Dan McKinney DoB: 1979-11-27 DoB: 1989-07-14 DoB: 1990-09-09 DoB: 1992-08-16 DoB: 1996-07-19 DoB: 1992-03-08 DoB: 1974-11-09 DoB: 1989-06-06 Hitting Coach Strategy Coach Catching Coach Coaching Assistant Bat'g Practice Pitcher Equipment Manager Bullpen Catchers Bullpen Catchers Troy Snitker Danny Barnes J.P. Arencibia Rafael Fernandez Kevin Mahoney Kevin Kierst Eric Langill Dave Racaniello DoB: 1988-12-05 DoB: 1989-10021 DoB: 1986-01-05 DoB: 1988-08-03 DoB: 1987-05-11 DoB: 1964-07-09 DoB: 1979-04-09 DoB: 1978-06-03 Your Mets Training Staff Director of Player Health Head Athletic Trainer Assistant Athletic Trainer Reconditioning Coordinator Reconditioning Therapist Head Performance Coach Assistant Performance Coach Performance Coordinator Soft Tissue Specialist Brian Chicklo Joseph Golia Bryan Baca Sean Bardanett Josh Bickel Dustin Clarke Tanner Miracle Jeremy Chiang Hiroto Kawamura DoB: 1972-07-17 DoB: 1978-??-?? DoB: Circa 1980 DoB: 1988-06-23 DoB: 1996-??-?? DoB: 1987-??-?? DoB: 1991-??-?? DoB: ????-??-?? DoB: 1962-07-19 View the full article

The calendar may still show weeks remaining before the MLB trade deadline, but rumors are already beginning to swirl around some of baseball's biggest names. One of the latest comes from national insider Jim Bowden, who recently identified Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton as a potential fit for a Philadelphia Phillies club searching for more offensive firepower. Philadelphia's need for outfield help has become increasingly apparent. The Phillies entered the season looking for more production from the outfield, and that urgency intensified after Adolis Garcia suffered an injury that could sideline him for the remainder of the year. The organization has attempted to patch the position by acquiring Derek Hill from the Chicago White Sox, promoting Gabriel Rincones Jr., and utilizing a platoon in right field, but those moves feel more like temporary solutions than championship-caliber answers. According to Bowden, rival executives believe Philadelphia is actively exploring the market for a difference-making addition. "I'm being told by GMs that the Phillies' front office is on the prowl for an impact outfielder," Bowden wrote. That description naturally leads to a short list of players capable of changing a lineup overnight. Bowden mentioned Boston Red Sox outfielders Wilyer Abreu and Jarren Duran as possibilities, but he reserved special praise for Buxton. "I think Buxton would be an excellent trade target if he waives his no-trade clause," Bowden wrote. From a purely baseball standpoint, the fit is obvious. Buxton has once again reminded everyone why he remains one of the sport's most talented players when healthy. His combination of power, speed, defense, and right-handed thump would address multiple needs for a Phillies lineup that already leans heavily to the left side. Unlike a typical rental acquisition, Buxton would immediately become one of the most dynamic players on Philadelphia's roster. Of course, making sense on paper and actually completing a trade are two very different things. The biggest obstacle is Buxton's full no-trade clause. Any potential deal would require not only an agreement between the two front offices but also Buxton's willingness to leave the only organization he has ever known. Since making his major league debut in 2015, Buxton has spent his entire career with Minnesota. He has developed into the face of the franchise, endured multiple rebuilding periods, signed a long-term extension, and established deep roots within the organization. Even if the Twins ultimately decide to listen on offers, Buxton would hold significant control over the process. That reality makes the speculation far more complicated than simply identifying a roster fit. Minnesota's position also remains unclear. While the Twins have endured a disappointing season, the organization has not shown any indication that it is actively shopping its franchise center fielder. Trading Buxton would represent far more than moving a productive veteran. It would signal a dramatic shift in organizational direction and likely require a return package capable of reshaping the future of the franchise. The Phillies possess one of baseball's better farm systems and have the prospect capital necessary to make a significant offer. However, acquiring a player of Buxton's caliber would almost certainly require Philadelphia to part with premium young talent. There is also recent history between these organizations. Last summer, Minnesota and Philadelphia completed multiple notable transactions as the Twins reshaped their roster. The Phillies acquired closer Jhoan Duran in one blockbuster move and later added Harrison Bader to bolster their outfield depth for the stretch run. Those deals helped establish a working relationship between the two front offices, and both teams are familiar with each other's systems and prospect inventories. That familiarity could make future conversations easier. Still, landing Buxton would be an entirely different challenge. The Phillies may be searching for an impact outfielder, and Buxton may be one of the best available fits if Minnesota ever chooses to engage. Yet between his no-trade protection, his importance to the Twins, and the massive prospect package that would be required, this remains one of the more difficult blockbuster scenarios to envision becoming reality. For now, it is a fascinating rumor. Whether it becomes something more will depend on how aggressively Philadelphia pursues an upgrade and whether Minnesota would even consider moving one of the most important players in franchise history. View the full article

Blue Jays Affiliate Overview (June 13-15) Triple-A Buffalo Bisons Series vs Syracuse Mets (New York Mets): 5-1 Season Record: 33-36 Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats Series vs Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies): 2-4 Season Record: 31-30 High-A Vancouver Canadians Series vs Everett AquaSox (Seattle Mariners): 3-3 Season Record: 26-37 Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays Series vs Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (Minnesota Twins): 3-2 Season Record: 28-34 FCL Blue Jays Week Record: 2-2 Season Record: 22-9 DSL Blue Jays Blue Week Record: 0-6 Season Record: 3-8 DSL Blue Jays Red Week Record: 4-2 Season Record: 4-7 Triple-A Buffalo Bisons Season Record: 33-36 Series vs Syracuse Mets (New York Mets) June 13: Eloy Jiménez and Josh Rivera powered the Buffalo Bisons' offense, which was clicking on all cylinders Saturday. It would be needed, as the bullpen faltered late in the game. A couple of recently promoted former Fisher Cats provided the sparks for Buffalo in the first inning. Sean Keys and Jay Harry had RBI singles, while Jonatan Clase added a sacrifice fly. With the game tied up at three in the fifth, Clase gave Buffalo the lead again when he singled home Josh Kasevich on a line drive to right. After Syracuse tied the game again, a wild pitch scored Ryan McCarty, and Jiménez knocked in Kasevich on a groundout. Adam Macko came into the game in the top of the ninth to close it out for Buffalo, but imploded instead. He hit and walked a batter, then a single by Ryan Clifford brought the spotlight up close on a play at the plate. Buffalo left fielder Rafael Lantigua threw out Ji Hwan Bae, momentarily saving the game. Unfortunately for the Bisons, two batters later, Grae Kessinger doubled home two runs and gave Syracuse the lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. It wasn't a bleak time for Buffalo, as Syracuse had already turned to a position player to pitch the eighth inning, and he was back for the ninth. Rivera smoked a home run with one out in the inning, his ninth of the year. The Bisons couldn't scratch another run across home in the inning, and the game went into extras. Chase Lee managed to keep the ghost runner from scoring in the top half of the 10th, while Jiménez capped off his big day with a walk-off single. Jiménez ended the day 3-for-6, with two RBI. Rivera matched him in the hit column, going 3-for-5 himself, with the solo home run. Buffalo won 8-7 in a game that took the entire team and extra innings to win it. June 14: CJ Van Eyk had the mound on Sunday and went deep into the game, 5.2 innings. He was dodging baserunners for most of the game, giving up nine hits and three runs, but didn't walk anyone. Eloy Jiménez kept his hot hitting going, doubling to left field and scoring on Jay Harry's double. In the third inning, Sean Keys blasted a 111 mph, two-run home run to right field. In the next inning, William Simoneit singled home Jonatan Clase, extending the lead for Buffalo to 4-2. With Syracuse at the plate in the seventh inning, the game went into a rain delay and then was called, with Buffalo winning 4-2. Double-A New Hampshire Season Record: 31-30 Series vs Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies) June 13: Gage Stanifer took the mound for the Fisher Cats on Saturday for their game against the Yard Goats. It was a bit of bad, some solid, and a tiny bit of good on the day for him. He walked the first two batters of the first inning, which was followed by a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single. To finish the inning, Stanifer got a short flyout to Victor Arias, who threw out a runner trying to tag up and score at home plate. In the second inning, Stanifer started out with a groundout, another walk, and a strikeout. Then a double to right field resulted in a perfect relay from Carter Cunningham and Cutter Coffey to again get an out at home plate. In the third, Cunningham got New Hampshire on the board with a home run to center field. The bottom of the inning saw more trouble for Stanifer, though. This time, after a groundout and his fourth walk of the game, Hartford added two singles for their second run. After having command trouble all game to this point, Stanifer found something and retired the last eight batters he faced. He struck out four of those eight and threw about 65% of his pitches for strikes in that stretch. The game remained tied until the eighth inning, when New Hampshire allowed five runs on a two-run double and three-run home run. The Fisher Cats lost 7-2. June 14: The offense was the highlight of the game for both teams on Sunday in the game between New Hampshire and Hartford. Jorge Burgos put the first run on the scoreboard in the first inning on an RBI single to right field. In the bottom of the second, Harford answered with an Aidan Longwell home run, Zach Kokoska RBI triple, and a Dyan Jorge RBI single. In the fourth, Nick Goodwin launched a home run for the Fisher Cats. A Roc Riggio home run and a wild pitch would put Hartford back up two by the fifth inning. In the sixth, Dub Gleed added a sacrifice fly, and then Carter Cunningham hit a home run for the second straight game, this time in the seventh. Hartford added a single in the bottom of the seventh, before the Fisher Cats took the lead back in the eighth on a wild pitch. New Hampshire would hold on for the win, taking this one 7-6. High-A Vancouver Season Record: 26-37 Series vs Everett AquaSox (Seattle Mariners) June 13: After Vancouver won the first three games of the series, allowing just five runs in those games, the Canadians' pitching struggled in the last three games of the series, allowing 11 runs on Friday, and once again allowing double-digit runs on Saturday. Landen Maroudis allowed five runs in 3.1 innings; he’s struggled heavily as he goes deeper into games. He gave up one run in his first three innings pitched, but then four runs in the fourth inning before getting taken out. The Canadians bullpen allowed five runs themselves, with Carson Myers responsible for four, and Jonathan Todd allowing one. Tucker Toman hit his fifth homer of the season in the fifth, and Manuel Beltre had his fourth homer of the season in the seventh to get two runs on the board. The Canadians then had a three-run eighth inning to bring it within five, and Alexis Hernandez hit homer number eight in the ninth, but that was all as the Canadians lost 10-6. June 14: The Canadians didn’t allow double-digit runs in this game, but still gave up nine in a back-and-forth contest. Gilberto Batista started for the Canadians and almost immediately gave up a two-run homer in the first inning. Tucker Toman hit his second homer in two games to make it a one-run game, and the Canadians took the lead back an inning later after an error allowed Eric Snow to score, before Kendry Chirinos and Sam Shaw both drove in runs on RBI singles. Everett took the lead back in the third as Batista gave up two runs, with an Alexis Hernandez error making one of them unearned. However, Chirinos had RBI number two to even it up in the fourth. Shaw took the lead back with his second RBI single, and Toman made it a two-run lead with a sac fly. Jack Eshleman pitched three scoreless innings to put the Canadians in line for the win, but Trace Baker loaded the bases, walked in a run, then gave up a three-run homer, which ended up losing the game for Vancouver, 9-7. Single-A Dunedin Season Record: 28-34 Series vs Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (Minnesota Twins) June 13: The Jays put up two touchdowns against the Mighty Mussels, as they tallied up 16 hits and four walks in a massive rout. Silvano Hechavarria has finally started to settle down in Dunedin after struggling immensely earlier in the year, going five scoreless innings, lowering his season ERA to 6.75. His strikeouts have not come yet, as he only struck out one batter, but it was an encouraging start. Aldo Gaxiola got the game going in the second inning, with a 102.7 mph homer. Then, JoJo Parker had one of his four hits in the third for a two-RBI triple in the third, and he was driven in by a Juan Sanchez double for an early 4-0 lead. Raimundo De Los Santos and Brock Tibbitts also had multi-RBI nights, and the D-Jays led 10-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. Luis Fonseca pitched two scoreless innings, but got one out in the eighth before allowing a two-run homer to a rehabbing Walker Jenkins. Diego Dominguez allowed two more runs with a wild pitch and a balk to make the game slightly closer. The Mighty Mussels were forced to put position player Irvin Nunez on the mound, and he ended up loading the bases for Jake Cook, who hit his first professional homer for a grand slam. Sanchez capped it off with a sac fly, as the Jays won 15-5. June 14: Cancelled FCL Blue Jays Season Record: 22-9 June 13: Giacomo Taschin was on the mound for the FCL Blue Jays and continued his good start to the season against the FCL Phillies. He went four innings, gave up three hits, one walk, and three runs. He struck out six on the day. In the second inning, the Blue Jays scored first when Keegan Pieternella lined an RBI single to center field. The Phillies quickly responded with a solo home run. In the fourth, the Blue Jays scored via a wild pitch, and again the Phillies answered with a home run. Then came the fifth inning, Franklin Rojas cleared the bases with a two-run triple for the Blue Jays. In the seventh inning, the Blue Jays added two runs on a wild pitch and a fielder's choice, as they won this one 6-4. June 15: The Monday game between the FCL Blue Jays and the FCL Phillies was a wild one. The Phillies took a three-run lead in the top of the first inning, with an RBI single and a two-run home run from Esterling Rodriguez. In the fourth, the Blue Jays answered with four runs. Kennew Blanco hit an RBI single, and later Giaconino Lasaracina hit a bases-clearing three-run double. In the eighth inning, Lasaracina hit another double with the bases loaded, driving in three more runs. Andres Arias would double and bring him home and then score on a groundout later in the inning. The Blue Jays won 9-3. DSL Blue Jays Blue Season Record: 3-8 June 13: Down on the island Saturday, it was Blue Jay team versus Blue Jay team, as BJB faced off against BJR. BJB left fielder Michael Mesa kicked off the fun with his second home run of the season, a two-run blast to right field. He would end the day raising his OPS to .981, and he continues to be one of the brightest spots for BJB. BJR countered in the third inning, loading the bases up and getting a sacrifice fly from Gabriel Porras. In the top of the fourth, BJB used some more power to extend their lead. Juan Caricote smacked a solo home run to right field, his first of the season. In the bottom half of the inning, a throwing error by BJB catcher Isay Veras allowed BJR to get another run across the plate. Later in the inning, another error by BJB first baseman Eiker Lothar allowed two more runs to score, as BJR took the lead 4-3. In the bottom of the fifth, BJR added to their lead, Ayberson Ortega singled home a run, and another would score on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, Fabian Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Ortega. BJR took the game 8-3, with BJB only getting three hits in the game. June 15: BJB tried to waive the white flag on Monday against the DSL Pirates Black team. Heading into the sixth inning, BJB was down 5-1. Once the final out of the game was recorded, BJB had lost 25-2, giving up 20 runs in the sixth and seventh innings. <Men In Black neuralyzer flash> DSL Blue Jays Red Season Record: 4-7 June 13: Down on the island Saturday, it was Blue Jay team versus Blue Jay team, as BJB faced off against BJR. BJB left fielder Michael Mesa kicked off the fun with his second home run of the season, a two-run blast to right field. He would end the day raising his OPS to .981, and he continues to be one of the brightest spots for BJB. BJR countered in the third inning, loading the bases up and getting a sacrifice fly from Gabriel Porras. In the top of the fourth, BJB used some more power to extend their lead. Juan Caricote smacked a solo home run to right field, his first of the season. In the bottom half of the inning, a throwing error by BJB catcher Isay Veras allowed BJR to get another run across the plate. Later in the inning, another error by BJB first baseman Eiker Lothar allowed two more runs to score, as BJR took the lead 4-3. In the bottom of the fifth, BJR added to their lead, Ayberson Ortega singled home a run, and another would score on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, Fabian Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Ortega. BJR took the game 8-3, with BJB only getting three hits in the game. June 15: Victor Espiritu had himself a game on Monday for BJR. He pitched five innings, struck out five, only walked one, and didn't give up a run. Up 1-0 in the sixth, Aneudi Severino doubled home Gabriel Porras to start off a big inning for BJR. They would score two runs from RBI groundouts and a fourth run from an Alex Linares single to third base. BJR capped off a good two-game stretch with another win, taking this game 4-1. View the full article

Following Seth Lugo's concussion, right-hander Mitch Spence had a chance to prove he belonged in the majors with the Kansas City Royals. But it didn't go how he would have liked. So Tuesday, Spence was optioned back to Triple-A Omaha as right-handed reliever Connor Seabold, acquired in a trade Monday, was activated to the 26-man roster. Spence was activated Monday to start against the Washington Nationals, but he allowed six runs over four innings, with two relievers needing to chew up two innings apiece. There will need to be an addition to the starting rotation to fill Lugo's spot. The Royals will benefit from having a rare Saturday off due to a World Cup match happening in Kansas City as the Royals host the St. Louis Cardinals. View the full article

Marek Houston, the Twins' first-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, has been on an absolute heater so far this season. Through 248 plate appearances with High-A Cedar Rapids, Houston is hitting .326 with a .394 on-base percentage. He's added 18 extra-base hits and 20 stolen bases, showcasing the well-rounded skill set that made him such an intriguing prospect. The production itself is impressive, but what's arguably even more encouraging is how much his overall approach has improved over the last several weeks. At the beginning of the year, strikeouts were the biggest blemish on an otherwise strong offensive profile. In April, Houston posted a 23.8% strikeout rate. That's not an awful numberwhere, especially in today's game, wherein strikeouts are more common than ever before. However, for a 22-year-old hitter in High-A, you'd ideally like to see the bat-to-ball skills a little further along. Fortunately for the Twins, that's exactly what's happened. Since May 1, Houston's strikeout rate has plummeted to just 15.4%, a dramatic improvement in a relatively short amount of time. And it's not as though he's simply become more aggressive in an effort to put the ball in play. His zone contact rate has increased, his whiff rate has dropped significantly, and at the same time, he's continued to show patience at the plate and work quality at-bats. That's an encouraging combination. Rather than trying to force things offensively, it appears Houston is simply trusting his swing more. He's been quicker to attack pitches he can handle, and the result has been both better contact quality and more consistent production. For a player whose offensive ceiling was viewed as one of the bigger questions entering pro ball, these are exactly the kinds of developments the Twins were hoping to see. Of course, Houston's value as a prospect extends far beyond what he does in the batter's box. In fact, his glove is what initially made him one of the most highly regarded college players in last year's draft class. Houston entered the draft with a 60-grade fielding tool, and his defense was further along than his bat when the Twins selected him. That reputation has only been reinforced during his first full professional season. He makes difficult plays look routine, and his combination of range, instincts, and arm strength makes it easy to project him as a long-term shortstop at the major league level. That's a valuable trait in today's game, especially as more organizations continue to prioritize athleticism and run prevention on the infield. The reason all of this is worth bringing up is that it naturally leads to an interesting question: How soon could Marek Houston force his way into the Twins' lineup? Most public prospect outlets currently list Houston's MLB ETA as 2028. On paper, that's a reasonable timeline for a player who’s currently in High-A. But if he continues to perform at this level while moving through the system, there's a strong argument that timeline could—and I’d argue should—be accelerated. The Twins' infield projects to be a crowded group over the next few years, which is one reason Houston isn't typically discussed as an option in the next 12-16 months. However, the defensive component of his game is what could ultimately separate him from the rest of the pack. As I mentioned earlier, Houston projects as a true shortstop long-term. While Brooks Lee has made the transition to third base, fellow shortstop prospect Kaelen Culpepper should be up comfortably before Houston. On the surface, that might create a bit of roster crunch. The good news is that defensive versatility has become a major priority within the Twins organization. In addition to third base, Lee has already demonstrated the ability to handle second base as well, and Culpepper's athleticism has allowed him to bounce between multiple infield positions. Both Luke Keaschall and Royce Lewis can also move around, and that flexibility could make it significantly easier for Houston to slide directly into a shortstop role if and when he's ready. Still, his bat remains the biggest question mark. Houston's recent offensive surge has certainly helped answer some concerns, but he'll still need to prove he can continue producing as he climbs the ladder and faces more advanced pitching. Success in Double-A and Triple-A will ultimately carry far more weight than what he's doing in High-A right now. But if the bat-to-ball strides prove real and his defense remains as advertised, it's not difficult to envision a scenario where Houston is pushing for a major league opportunity at some point in 2027. And if that happens, the Twins could suddenly find themselves with an extremely interesting infield configuration. You could envision a group featuring Culpepper at third base, Houston at shortstop, Lee at second base, Luke Keaschall at first base, and Royce Lewis serving as the primary designated hitter. Of course, one of the advantages of having so many athletic infielders is that nobody would need to be locked into a single position. The versatility throughout the group would allow Minnesota to rotate players around the diamond, manage workloads, and keep everyone fresh over the course of a long season. It's the kind of roster challenge every organization wants to have. Having too many talented players competing for playing time is a far better problem than not having enough. The Twins may find themselves dealing with exactly that situation within the next 12 to 18 months, and with every passing week, Marek Houston is making that future outlook a little more complicated. Considering how well he's playing, that's a very good thing. View the full article

Alex and Maddie celebrate Talk Sox’s podcast 50th episode. They kick things off by answering your mailbag questions. (Thank you to everyone who submitted questions!) They unpack the latest drama from Sam Kennedy’s comments on Craig Breslow’s job security to various league sources disclosing their unsavory opinions about the front office. Finally, they check out the newly unveiled All-Star Game voting standings. Unsurprisingly, there’s only one Red Sox player (Willson Contreras) ranked in the top 10 for any American League position. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-talk-sox-podcast/id1783204104 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qPrPXEngu0CxgTmlf0ynm Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-talk-sox-podcast-244591331/ Listen on Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/4tmd121v Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talksox View the full article

When the Chicago Cubs acquired Michael Busch ahead of the 2024 season, they were acquiring a player with significant offensive upside but without a defensive home. They gave him one almost immediately, taking a player who had primarily held his post at third base (with the occasional spell at second) and inserting him as the team's full-time first baseman. The early returns on Busch's defense were varying levels of fine. In that 2024 season, he ranked eighth in Outs Above Average among first basemen (2). That painted him as an above-average defender at the position, but it was the gradual improvement that was notable. His -1 OAA in March and April ranked just 21st before he jumped to the top of the leaderboard with 4 OAA in May. He remained above the average threshold for each of the next two months before slipping back under it in the final two months of the season. It's difficult to gauge a defender's quality over a one-month sample at any point during the season given the need for defensive metrics to develop over a larger one, but the variance in the OAA figure does speak to a player adjusting over time. There was steady improvement before some regression, and unfortunately for Busch, that kind of adjustment wasn't a mere one-year thing. The 2025 iteration of Busch found himself under that average threshold, finishing at -1 OAA for the year. He particularly struggled in moving to his right, where he posted -4 OAA (working to his left, he was at 1). This is where we run into a couple of notes about the nature of being a first baseman, especially as it applies to the world of defensive metrics. For one, players are not always entirely within your control. As a first baseman, you are more at the mercy of your teammates as the endpoint of a defensive play rather than the starting line. The Cubs got top-five play out of their middle infield in 2024, which compensated for the bottom-five work they got from third base. In 2025, though, Dansby Swanson's play at short slipped closer to the middle of the pack, while third base play remained in the bottom 10 of the league. So while Busch was still adjusting to the position, the fact that he wasn't getting the same brilliance from his infield cohort didn't do him any favors. There are also myriad factors that go into a metric like Outs Above Average that present certain limitations for a first baseman. Distance and time to the ball in play, distance from the base, and the speed of the runner are all factors. Positioning for first baseman helps them in this sense, but also leaves out some nuance that we might need to measure players at other positions given that they're where a play typically ends. The sample itself is smaller, and it ends up a bit more black-and-white for a first baseman. In Busch's case, the fact that he was still adjusting to the position while getting less consistent play from his infielders didn't indicate linear development between 2024 and 2025 in the way you might want to see from a player expected to hold it down in the long-term. The struggles he had moving to his right represented a need in an individual area of improvement, while bumping up the quality at a spot like third base would mitigate factors beyond his control. Because of that, we're able to see the value of the combination of steady play from Busch himself as a first baseman and the impact his fielders have on that. Which is likely why his play is looking better than ever in 2026. This season, Busch is atop the leaderboard for OAA by first basemen (6). It's a number matched by only Atlanta's Matt Olson, and one that not only serves as the best among his position but ranks 16th in the league overall. Perhaps even more important are some of the secondary elements that illustrate defensive quality. While Busch struggled mightily moving to his right in 2025, he's been extremely good at it in 2026. He's at 1 OAA moving in each direction and at 3 OAA moving in on the ball. Further, after posting a 76% success rate against a 76% estimated success rate last year, he's actually making more plays than expected this season. He's at a 79% success rate against an expected figure of 75%. Only San Diego's Ty France has a higher success rate added than Busch. Busch has his own role within all of this, of course. Now in his third year in the position, we're seeing a player settling in. That's evidenced by the fact that these numbers have improved despite almost no change in his starting position (both in depth and in angle). He's just become more adept at making plays, with his 10 scoops this year also setting him on pace to exceed his number in each of the last two years. Making the plays you need to make is one thing, but being able to make the read on picks is such a crucial part of first base play that the growth is evident within each part of this defensive spectrum. Quality infield play has helped. The Cubs are seventh in the league in defense at second (5 OAA), third at shortstop (8 OAA), and 10th at third base (1 OAA). The latter figure is obviously the most notable given where it's sat in each of the last two years, but Swanson's play regaining its form after a tough spell has also aided Busch in his defensive growth. When you factor in the offensive production from Busch, there's a certain confidence in his ability to man the position as a long-term staple. Not that either of the last two years were putting that in doubt, but we're looking at a player who has made strides without significant adjustment, indicating that time itself can be a great equalizer when you're hoping for a player to develop a specific facet of their game. That and the quality of his infield peers, of course. View the full article

PITTSBURGH — When Tyler Phillips and Scott Oberg crossed paths eleven years ago, the two had plenty in common. Both were pitchers in a major league organization, hailed from the northeast, and did offseason work at the same training facility in New Jersey. Oh, and wouldn't you know, Phillips was a recent alumnus of Bishop Eustace Prep School, where both Oberg's wife and sister-in-law graduated as well. What they didn't share, though, was ultimately responsible for where Phillips is today, as he explained in an exclusive interview with Fish On First. In the 2015-16 offseason following Oberg's rookie year in Colorado and Phillips' first few months as a pro, the former reached out to the latter in an effort to gain a workout partner for the winter months. On a podcast appearance in May 2019 with Eric Cressey of Cressey Sports Performance, Oberg detailed the makings of their initial conversations: "(Phillips) kind of just fell into my lap...He had been a kid working out at this facility for a long time. I started reaching out to him like, 'Hey man, congrats on being drafted and everything. I kinda know who you are, so let's get together and work out in the offseason. We're already going to the same place, so let's just do it at the same time—it'll be fun.' Nobody really likes working out by themselves over the offseason." When Phillips agreed, Oberg took it upon himself to help mentor Phillips, having seen first-hand the reality and business that is professional baseball. "Unfortunately, it's a business and a cruel world where they have zero problems just releasing you," Oberg relayed to his new protege. "I had seen plenty of guys go down that road, even guys that were drafted in-state by the Rockies, where they say, 'Hey, you're just not good enough. Goodbye.' That's just the reality of it. Knowing that—I was 24 at the time before I got called up to the big leagues—I'd been through a little bit of the thick of it, seeing a bunch of guys get released, and he has no idea what he's about to get himself into." Admittedly, things got off to a rough start for Phillips. Late arrivals and lack of seriousness didn't fly with Oberg, whose scolding wasn't appreciated by Phillips initially. "I would show up to the gym. Seventeen years old, he would tell me we're gonna throw at 10 o'clock, and I would show up right at 10. He would be fuming at me," recalled Phillips. "Because it's like, 'Just follow the schedule, be there on time, do your stuff the right way.' I'd be on my phone in between sets in the weight room, like is it really that important? He got on me, and I didn't like it." "A lot of the (issues) early on were discipline things," said Oberg. "I would have to get on him for him to reach out to (Cressey) and not have his dad do it. Like, no man, you need to care enough to call him. This is your job now, and your body is your number one asset. There were times when he'd show up late, and I'd be like, 'Hey man, we're setting times to get our stuff done. You need to show up on time. This isn't show up and do whatever you want. I have my own life with my own things going on, and my wife has her own life going on. You have to understand that this isn't just about you.'" Eventually, though, the accumulation of those moments left an impression on Phillips. Whether it be reading books together or simply sticking to their combined schedule, the two became close quickly. Phillips absorbed as much as he could from Oberg, including the routine that he so heavily emphasized. "As I started getting older, I realized how important it actually is," added Phillips. "I get two, three hours to work out in the gym and take care of business. That's my craft, that's what I want to do. My phone is going to be there when I'm done, so I started putting the phone up. I think just that consistency and finding that routine just really bled into who I am today." "Once some of the discipline started kicking in a little bit, then we could get into the baseball things," said Oberg. "Over the years, he's grown so much as a ballplayer and a person. It's been so much fun to watch. That's what these scouts saw in you when they drafted you. They saw a really good-framed kid and assumed you'd put on some weight. You're gonna be a monster and you have the potential to be a really good starting pitcher in the big leagues." Remember, Oberg was singing these praises in an interview that is now seven years old, while Phillips was moving between High-A and Double-A with Texas. There's been some change since. In an awful turn of events, Oberg was forced to retire in 2023 due to lingering blood clot issues in his throwing arm—a moment that weighed heavily on Phillips. "That broke my heart hearing that. He was unbelievably talented, and his mind was something else." Fortunately, Oberg and his wisdom didn't leave the game. Following the end of his playing days, he received his master's degree from Georgetown University and accepted a job with the Rockies as the minor league pitching coordinator in January 2025. As for the apprentice, Phillips has made good on Oberg's expectations after what was a rollercoaster couple of years post-COVID. The big right-hander was designated for assignment in July 2021 by Texas before being picked up by his hometown Phillies off waivers. Two seasons in the minors opened the door for a full-circle debut and instant, albeit unsustained success in his rookie year as a starter. Phillips was traded to Miami for cash days before the 2025 season began in a deal that got overlooked, but presented some opportunity to at least make an impression as a reliever. To say that the man capitalized on said chance would be an understatement. In 73 appearances across two seasons, Phillips has been another diamond in the rough for Peter Bendix and the Marlins, sporting a 2.43 ERA and an elite 175 ERA+ while being called into a wide variety of game situations. His run prevention combined with a distinct pre-outing self-slap routine made him one of the more prominent middle relievers in MLB. Recently, the window has cracked open for Phillips to fill an even bigger role. Following an avalanche of injuries to Miami's starting rotation candidates, he has been stretched out as a starter. Entering Tuesday, he is enjoying similar success (1.98 ERA in 13.2 IP). Phillips attributes his performance to being an "unhealthy perfectionist" and "figuring out" his old routine, an idea shaped and mastered years back in frigid New Jersey with Oberg. "To be honest, without him, I probably would have been out of the game a lot, a lot sooner. He just gave me this maturity that I don't think I would have ever found." View the full article

Robert Gasser was a two-fastball guy last year, who was really more like two different one-fastball guys. He leaned heavily on his four-seamer against right-handed batters, and on his sinker—really, a running two-seamer—against lefties. He only made two starts in the majors, but that's what he showed in them, and it roughly matched what he had shown in his rookie season of 2024, before going down with an elbow injury. He comes at you from a low slot, but he doesn't have anything with much depth. Instead, he's working east and west at all times, and his project within each at-bat is to set up and execute a sweeper to get you out. This season, much of that has changed. Gasser's slot is even lower in 2026 than it was in 2025. He's also using more of a crossfire delivery. In this pair of images, you can clearly see the lower arm angle, though the slight difference in camera angles makes it harder to tell that he's striding closed as he comes down the mound. Those adaptations give Gasser a clearer path to being a useful left-handed reliever, but interestingly, the changes he's made to his arsenal push in the opposite direction. He's now something much closer to a true three-fastball guy, who not only has a cutter he trusts again, but throws the four-seamer, the sinker, and the cutter to both lefties and righties. Ah, yes, and about that sinker: it's not a two-seamer that runs but doesn't sink much, anymore. Gasser acknowledged after his first big-league start of the year that he's made a grip change this year. He now throws what he calls a "one-seam" sinker, with more depth. For those unfamiliar with the concept, a one-seam grip places one of a ball's horseshoe-shaped laces between the fingers of a pitcher, letting one seam catch the air and create downward movement via air resistance, rather than spin direction or traditional seam-shifted wake. It's an unusual grip for a pitcher coming from a low slot like Gasser's, but the effect has been to give his sinker much more true sink. Despite the lower slot, Gasser's four-seamer has as much rising action as ever this year, but induced vertical break on the sinker is 6.8 inches, down from 9.6 inches in 2025. Unequivocally, this is a nastier pitch, and mixing it with the good changeup and sweeper Gasser has long had plus the two other fastball shapes should allow him to miss bats and collect weak contact, if the rest of the pieces fall into place. What are the rest of the pieces? In a word: location. Gasser has walked nine of the 87 batters he's faced this season, which is alarming, because control isn't even his biggest problem. Rather, it's that he's also allowed 11 extra-base hits. A handful of those came in Las Vegas, where the conditions weren't conducive to success for any pitcher, but he's been hit hard in each of his appearances so far. He's just making too many mistakes in the heart of the zone to dismiss any of the damage being done against him as a matter of bad luck. Though the tweaks to his sinker have given him a chance to hit better spots with it low in the zone, in practice, he's leaving it up too much—be that in the zone, when it was meant to be below it, or up up. RDFkOXlfWGw0TUFRPT1fVUFrRkFBRUdBZ0lBRFFBRVVBQUhCVlFGQUZnTUFnQUFCd1JVQndkUkJnZFdBRk5U.mp4 Living mostly in the 91-93 MPH zone, Gasser doesn't have the margin for error to miss as much as he's been missing, with any of his pitches. He's built a more interesting arsenal than he had in the past, thanks in part to being healthy enough to get the reps in and do so. These were needed changes. To lock them in and enjoy the fruits of them, though, Gasser will have to keep drilling on the mechanics involved. He'll have to succeed at hitting his targets, because the stuff is now good enough to win—but it will never be good enough to make up for missing in the middle of the dish to big-leaguers. View the full article

Leading up to the 2026 MLB Draft, Fish On First brings you a series of scouting reports on top prospects in this draft class who could realistically wind up in Miami. Overview Position: LHP Height: 6’9″ Weight: 255 pounds School: Bishop Feehan HS (MA) Commitment: Texas Brody Bumila is a 6’9”, 255-pound left-handed pitcher who plays at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Bumila is one of the top pitching prospects in the 2026 MLB Draft. He’s also one of the top flamethrowers this class. Bumila has really risen on draft boards during his senior season while earning the MaxPreps Male National Athlete of the Year award. The southpaw possesses a three-pitch mix including his elite fastball, slider, and changeup. Bumila’s fastball sits 96-98 mph and has been clocked at 101 mph. His best secondary pitch is his changeup, which works very well versus right-handed hitters. His slider leaves a lot to be desired. While he can throw it for strikes, he has rarely used it because of how much he was able to overwhelm high school hitters with his fastball. Bumila can throw strikes consistently and will attack hitters on the inner half. He is signed to play college baseball at the University of Texas. Strengths Elite fastball Elite extension on his pitches Good feel for his changeup Projectable body frame Strike-thrower Frontline starter upside Weaknesses Needs to improve slider Injury risk Pro Comparison: Kruz Schoolcraft Projection: Top 25 pick Bottom Line Brody Bumila has a ton of talent and potential. On Perfect Game, Bumila is the 21st-ranked prospect and the fifth-ranked left-handed pitcher in the Class of 2026. He’s also their No. 1 prospect in Massachusetts. On MLB Pipeline, he is the 19th-ranked draft prospect. On Baseball America, Bumila is a five-star recruit and the 22nd-ranked draft prospect. The Marlins will have the 14th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft and should be able to grab one of the top prospects in this draft class. Given the organization's recent track record of working with young pitchers to develop breaking balls, Bumila would be a nice fit. More 2026 MLB draft profiles OF Trevor Condon RHP Cade Townsend OF Drew Burress LHP Gio Rojas RHP Cameron Flukey OF Eric Booth Jr. 3B Ace Reese LHP Carson Bolemon RHP Jackson Flora INF Jacob Lombard OF AJ Gracia View the full article

Let's check in on the San Diego Padres prospects who made a mark in the last week (check out Padres Mission's latest Top 20 rankings as well!): Ryan Wideman, CF, Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm Season stats: .327/.394/.527, 60 games, 48 R, 19 2B, 6 3B, 6 HR, 44 RBI, 20 BB, 51 K, 42 SB, 12 CS The toolsy center fielder, Padres Mission's No. 5 prospect, is coming off his biggest moment of the season, crushing a walk-off homer off the scoreboard in right-center field on the first pitch of the ninth inning to give the Storm an 8-7 triumph over the Ontario Tower Buzzers, a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate. The homer, part of a four-hit game, was his sixth of the season and put the Storm on the verge of the first-half championship in the California League's South Division. Last year's third-round draft choice played in five of six games last week and went 10-for-22 with five walks, seven runs scored and five RBIs for a .455/.538/.636 slash line. He swiped five more stolen bases to boost his season total to 42, which leads all of the minors (majors, too), in 60 games. He has been caught 12 times. The power-speed combo was evident as he made his pro debut last year in 26 games with the Storm, but he had a .229/.330/.271 slash line. The biggest improvement for Wideman has been the reduction in strikeouts. He went down 28.6% of the time in his brief introduction to pro ball and has reduced that to an 18.5% punch-out rate this year. Wideman's walk rate, however, is also down a bit, from 10.7% to 7.3%. RW_0615.mp4 Carlos Rodriguez, OF, Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas Season stats: .297/.363/.373, 53 games, 28 runs, 9 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 34 RBI, 24 BB, 26 K, 6 SB, 0 CS While still just 25, the outfielder doesn't feel like a prospect anymore due to the fact the Padres are the third organization he has been with since making his pro debut in 2018. He stayed with the Milwaukee Brewers chain through 2024, then played last season in the Atlanta system. He has played in 159 games at Triple-A in the last two seasons, though his current heater could change the equation. The 5-foot-9 left-handed hitter had two hits Sunday, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 20 games and his on-base streak to 24 games. It is the longest active streak in the Pacific Coast League. Last week alone, Rodriguez went 10-for-26, all but one a single (the other was a double) with one RBI. He walked three times, but impressively struck out just once. He needed a ninth-inning infield single to third base Saturday to keep the streak alive. The last time he didn't get a hit was when he took an 0-for-3 line on May 20 vs. Round Rock. He had a hit in the three games before that, too. His strikeout rate is at 11% this year, the second-best mark of his career after a 10.4% mark in 2024. Jesus Castro, RHP, Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm Season stats: 0-1, 2.72 ERA, 10 games (all starts), 43 IP, 42 H, 14 R, 13 ER, 16 BB, 53 K, .258 opponent average Okay, so the right-handed starter was on our Hot Sheet last week. I try not to repeat from one week to the next, but Castro put up an even better performance than his previous outing. The recently turned 19-year-old struck out a career-high 12 in 4⅔ shutout innings in a 6-1 win Wednesday over Ontario. He gave up three hits and two walks, the same totals as the week before. Castro has not allowed a run in four of his last five starts and is one reason why the Storm have the best ERA in the Cal League at 4.78 (yeah, I know that's high, but it is the Cal League). The Storm have a nice rotation led by right-hander Winyer Chourio, who is second in the league with 69 strikeouts. Castro's 12 punchouts last week gave him 44 in his last 29 innings. He has 53 for the season in 43 innings. His strikeout rate is just a tick above last season, when he made his pro debut (28.6% from 27.1%), while his walk rate has increased a bit from 5.9% in 2025 to 8.6% this year. Tyler Schmitt, RHP, Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm Season stats: 4-3, 4.38 ERA, 11 games (10 starts), 49⅓ IP, 44 H, 24 R, 24 ER, 27 BB, 57 K, .243 opponent average This list could have very well included three Storm starting pitchers, but last year's 17th-round draft choice was the choice over Chourio (who struck out nine in his own right) because Schmitt punched out a season-high 11 two starts after fanning nine. The 21-year-old allowed four hits and just one walk over a season-best six innings, the third time he has gone that distance in his debut season. Schmitt now has four starts (out of 10) in which he hasn't allowed a run. His two big strikeout games in his last three starts have increased his strikeout rate to 26.9%. Schmitt still has issues with walks as he has at least one in all 11 appearances this season, but he has just 13 in his last seven starts, including two three-walk outings. He also does a pretty good job of limiting contact. Outside of his three blowup starts, he has allowed three or less hits in six of his other eight outings and gave up four hits in those remaining two. That work has helped plunge an ERA that was at 9.75 at the end of April to 4.38 now. Luke Cantwell, 1B, Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm Season stats: .349/.504/.509, 35 games, 25 R, 12 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 27 RBI, 24 BB, 24 K, 6 SB, 2 CS Yes, another Storm player. A 20th-round draft choice last year out of Pitt, the first baseman began his pro career at High-A Fort Wayne, appearing in five games and going 5-for-20 with a homer. Instead of going back to the TinCaps, the Padres sent Cantwell down to Lake Elsinore, where he has been on fire when he has been in the lineup. Cantwell was on the injured list for about three weeks, returning a couple Sundays ago. LC_0615.mp4 In his first full week back, he picked up from where he left off by going 9-for-21 with four doubles and his first triple of the season along with eight RBIs. He also walked eight times, including in five straight games, giving him a slash line of .429/.600/.714 for the week. That time off cost Cantwell his spot on the Cal League leaderboard, where his team-leading .349 average would rank second. Wideman's .327 is fifth. Cantwell had a pair of two-hit games and another where he had a double and three walks. His triple was well-timed. as he did it leading off the ninth inning Tuesday as the Storm trailed by two. He scored, but the Storm fell 5-4. Still, he has an RBI in six of the seven games since he returned to the lineup. View the full article

For much of his professional career, Kyler Fedko has existed on the fringes of prospect conversations. He wasn't a highly-touted draft pick. He never cracked the top of national prospect rankings. Even after putting together strong seasons, he often found himself overshadowed by younger and flashier names in the organization. Yet, every farm system seems to produce one player who develops a loyal following among fans. For the Twins, Fedko has steadily become that player. After years of grinding through the minor leagues, he has finally reached the point where a major league opportunity feels deserved rather than hopeful. A Productive College Career at Connecticut Minnesota selected Fedko in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of the University of Connecticut. While he wasn't viewed as an elite prospect, he built a strong collegiate résumé that suggested there might be more offensive upside than many evaluators believed. In three college seasons, he hit .330/.407/.552 with 29 doubles and 19 homers across 119 games. He showed an ability to impact the baseball while maintaining a strong overall offensive profile. One factor that hurt his draft stock was a disappointing performance in summer wood-bat leagues. Fedko posted a .452 OPS in a limited sample size of 135 plate appearances, raising questions about how his offensive game would translate against professional pitching. Those concerns pushed him into the middle rounds, allowing Minnesota to take a chance on a player who had produced consistently in the Big East. Learning the Professional Game in 2021-22 Fedko's first taste of professional baseball came immediately after the draft, when he joined Low-A Fort Myers. The results were modest; he hit .235/.346/.395 with two doubles in 81 plate appearances. Like many first-year players, he was adjusting to professional routines, daily competition, and a longer season than he had experienced in college. The numbers didn't jump off the page, but there was enough promise for the Twins to give him another opportunity at the level the following season. Returning to Fort Myers in 2022, Fedko looked far more comfortable. He posted an .888 OPS in 26 games and quickly demonstrated that he was ready for a bigger challenge. The Twins promoted him to High-A Cedar Rapids, where the transition proved more difficult. Across his final 84 games of the season, Fedko managed a .697 OPS. While he flashed occasional power and athleticism, he was still trying to establish himself as a legitimate prospect. At the conclusion of his age-22 season, he appeared destined for a future as organizational depth, rather than a player who would eventually push for a major-league role. Slow Progress in 2023-24 Fedko spent all of 2023 with Cedar Rapids, despite entering the season older than the average age of the competition in the Midwest League. Injuries limited him to only 59 games, preventing him from building consistent momentum. Even so, he produced an .810 OPS and showed a particularly strong ability to punish left-handed pitching, posting a .910 OPS against southpaws. The season offered glimpses of a useful player, but the missed time made it difficult to evaluate whether his improvements were sustainable. Every prospect faces a proving ground, and for many hitters, that challenge comes at Double-A. Fedko spent the entire 2024 season at Wichita and appeared in a career-high 130 games. Unfortunately, the production never arrived. He finished with a .645 OPS and only 17 extra-base hits. His strikeout rate jumped to 20.1%, and his walk rate dipped to 12.6%. Entering his age-25 season, many players would have seen their prospect stock disappear entirely after a season like that. Instead, Fedko used the disappointing campaign as motivation heading into the following year. The 2025 Breakout Nobody Saw Coming In 2025, Fedko transformed himself from organizational depth into one of the most productive hitters in Minnesota's farm system. Between Double-A and Triple-A, he batted .258/.367/.487 with 28 homers and 38 steals in 130 games. He had a 130 wRC+, while improving his walk rate by 1.4%. His combination of power, speed, and improved offensive consistency made him one of the biggest surprises in the organization. There was a legitimate argument that he should have been named Twins Daily's Minor League Hitter of the Year, though he ultimately finished second to Gabriel Gonzalez. Despite the impressive numbers, Fedko remained overlooked. The Twins passed on giving him a September call-up and later left him exposed in the Rule 5 Draft. No team selected him, creating another chapter in a career that has repeatedly required him to prove doubters wrong. Forcing the Issue at Triple-A Fedko entered 2026 with something to prove—and has done exactly that. Over the last two seasons, he has compiled a .278/.364/.532 slash line with 23 home runs over 426 Triple-A plate appearances. Thanks to a recent surge of crushing Triple-A fastballs, he’s repeating his success so far at St. Paul to the tune of a .286/.372/.578 season line with 15 homers and 11 doubles in 55 games while increasing his wRC+ to 138. He has a well-defined vulnerability to chasing secondaries that will probably limit him to platoon corner outfielder status. Fedko gets into a deep but narrow crouch at the plate that sets him up to launch low fastballs. He can move the barrel around the zone a bit, and his contact rates are solidly average, but his fondness for chasing secondaries in the dirt could make him a rather boom-or-bust offensive contributor without quite the versatility to cover center field. Why Fedko Could Fit in Minnesota The appeal of Fedko goes beyond his bat. The 26-year-old can play all three outfield positions, and he has 47 stolen bases (out of 59 attempts) over the last two seasons at the Double-A and Triple-A levels. With much of his offensive production coming against left-handed pitching, the right-handed hitting Fedko provides a natural complement to Trevor Larnach or Kody Clemens in the corner outfield spots. His presence also creates roster flexibility and could allow Clemens to spend more time handling infield duties. Fedko is 26 years old, with a poor pre-2025 track record, so it’s no mystery why he’s been overlooked. But if last season’s improved hitting was for real, his speed and ability to play all three outfield spots would make him a solid bench piece. This season could make or break Fedko’s big-league dreams. Fedko's professional career has been anything but conventional. He wasn't a blue-chip prospect, and there were multiple points where it seemed unlikely he would ever reach the major leagues. Injuries, inconsistent production, and a lack of national recognition all contributed to him being overlooked. However, his persistence has made him one of the most intriguing stories in the organization. Few players in Minnesota's system have improved their stock more dramatically over the last two seasons. Whether he ultimately becomes a platoon outfielder, a valuable bench contributor, or something more, Fedko has already accomplished something significant. After spending years as an afterthought, he has forced the Twins and their fans to pay attention. What stands out about his professional career? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Pitchers spend a significant portion of their game plans trying to get hitters to expand the strike zone. When they succeed, they usually gain the upper hand. Swings at bad pitches often result in weak contact, whiffs, or strikeouts. Ceddanne Rafaela is becoming an exception to that rule. After hovering around a 37% chase rate during the first two months of the season, Rafaela has taken his aggressiveness to another level in June. His O-Swing% (the rate at which a hitter swings at pitches outside the strike zone) has jumped to an astonishing 60.2%, the highest mark in Major League Baseball so far this month. Boston Red Sox fans won't be too surprised by that fact, but the context makes the number even more remarkable. Ezequiel Tovar ranks second at 56.7%, while Salvador Perez sits third at 54.3%. Rafaela not only leads the leaderboard, but does so by a considerable margin. Hitters With the Highest Chase Rates in June 2026 Player O-Swing% O-Contact% Contact% Ceddanne Rafaela 60.2% 72.6% 80.0% Ezequiel Tovar 56.7% 54.9% 67.3% Salvador Pérez 54.3% 71.9% 79.4% Ernie Clement 53.0% 70.5% 80.9% Kerry Carpenter 51.8% 79.1% 83.9% Michael Harris II 51.0% 69.8% 78.2% Mauricio Dubón 49.6% 81.7% 87.5% Cody Bellinger 49.5% 77.8% 80.4% Ángel Martínez 49.5% 75.6% 78.4% Andrés Giménez 49.4% 72.1% 76.8% The table helps put the number into perspective. Rafaela not only leads MLB in chase rate during June, but also owns one of the strongest contact profiles among this group, an unusual combination for such an aggressive hitter. Normally, a spike of this magnitude in chase rate comes with more whiffs, more strikeouts, and a decline in offensive production. Rafaela, however, has produced the exact opposite outcome. So far in June, he is hitting .333/.348/.533 with an .881 OPS and a 139 wRC+, numbers that have made him one of Boston’s most productive hitters during the month. Although his walk rate has fallen to just 2.2%, he has compensated for it with a combination of contact ability, speed, and production whenever he puts the ball in play. The answer to our paradox lies in how his contact profile has evolved. What stands out is that the increase in aggressiveness has been accompanied by better contact rates. His O-Contact% has climbed to 72.6%, while his Z-Contact% has reached 90.7%, both season highs. The result is an overall contact rate of 80%, enough to prevent the added chasing from turning into a strikeout problem. That helps explain why his strikeout rate sits at just 17.4% in June, below his season average and far removed from the 31.5% mark he posted during his MLB debut in 2023. In fact, Rafaela’s overall development as a hitter has been more substantial than the usual conversations about his plate discipline suggest. His strikeout rate fell from 31.5% in 2023 to 26.4% in 2024, then to 19.9% in 2025, and currently sits at 20.5%. At the same time, his offensive line has improved to .286/.341/.450 this season, good for a career-best 116 wRC+. That progress has come without a dramatic overhaul of his approach. Rafaela remains one of the most aggressive hitters in baseball. The difference is that he is now reducing the cost of that aggressiveness. This chart shows Rafaela’s wOBA production against pitches outside the strike zone during March and April: There was only one clear weakness: pitches located low and inside. Now let's look at the map for June. The weakness against low-and-in pitches has largely disappeared, and more broadly, he has produced across the strike zone in a way few hitters in the league have managed this season. It's a trend worth monitoring as the season unfolds. The underlying metrics suggest that part of his current production may be difficult to sustain. His .299 xwOBA remains well below his actual .348 wOBA, while his expected batting average (.247) also trails his actual mark (.286). In addition, his .343 BABIP sits noticeably above the levels he posted in previous seasons. Even so, the gains in contact ability and strikeout reduction appear genuine. Rafaela no longer relies exclusively on his speed or defense to generate value. He is also showing tangible growth as a hitter without losing his identity at the plate. That is what makes Rafaela such a fascinating player to watch right now. So far in June, he leads Major League Baseball in swings at pitches outside the strike zone, a statistic that would normally signal offensive trouble. And yet, Rafaela has done the opposite. He has made more contact, struck out less, and produced like one of the Red Sox's best players. View the full article

With All-Star voting underway, I thought it would be interesting to look at the Royals’ one-time All-Stars. After all, you already know about George Brett and Salvador Perez. There are some surprising names on this list, as well as some relatively obscure players. To start with, let’s examine the one-timers from the club’s inception in 1969 through the 1980s (that’s a good place to end Part 1, as you’ll see). I borrowed this concept from the Phillies site, The Good Phight. Ellie Rodriguez (1969) The Royals’ first team produced one All-Star, which probably isn’t that surprising; expansion teams are usually made of castoffs, after all. Rodriguez was deemed expendable by the New York Yankees before the 1968 expansion draft, and the Royals used the 13th pick on him. He was the Opening Day catcher but didn’t really claim the starting job until late May. Given regular playing time, he responded with a hot month of June, hitting .281/.361/.422. His season totals on July 16, when the reserves were chosen for the AL team, were just .257/.344/.341 with two home runs and 13 RBI. But AL manager Mayo Smith only selected eight pitchers, and stocked his bench with six outfielders. Also, the Royals’ brass spoke highly of Rodriguez’s defensive ability. “There isn’t any doubt about his defensive ability. He takes command behind the plate and has the knack of making a pitcher bear down all the time.” --Royals general manager Cedric Tallis, quoted by Paul O’Boynick, The Kansas City Times, July 17, 1969 “He is a good analyst behind the plate and is quick on blocking low pitches. Ellie has come a long way since spring training. He’s a bulldog behind the plate.” --Royals manager Joe Gordon, quoted by Paul O’Boynick, The Kansas City Times, July 17, 1969 Sadly, Rodriguez did not get in the game. Starter Bill Freehan of Detroit played the first six innings, and Minnesota’s John Roseboro played the final three. Smith did use a pinch-hitter for Roseboro in the bottom of the ninth, but the game ended with the NL on top, 9-3. Rodriguez, who just passed away in April at age 79, was dealt to Milwaukee after the 1970 season. He would be named to one more All-Star team while with the Brewers during the 1972 campaign. He didn’t get to play in that one, either. Lou Piniella (1972) I suppose lots of people would guess that Sweet Lou was the Royals’ first All-Star, as he won the Rookie of the Year award in 1969. But despite a solid .282/.325/.416 line that year, Piniella had to wait until 1972 to be named to the All-Star team. In the middle of what was probably his best season, Piniella was a deserving choice. When the reserves were named by manager Earl Weaver on July 20 (the game was really late on the calendar that year), Piniella was second in the AL with a .321 batting average, and he had nine home runs and 43 RBI. “Sure, I’m happy, very happy. Elated might be a better way to describe the way I feel. You hear talk about how some players would rather have three days off. I don’t know if I’ll get to play, but I’d rather be at the All-Star Game.” --Piniella, quoted by Sid Bordman, The Kansas City Star, July 21, 1972 Piniella did get to play, grounding out as a pinch-hitter in the 10th inning of the NL’s 4-3 win. Piniella was traded by the Royals to the New York Yankees after the 1973 season. Perhaps surprisingly, 1972 was his only All-Star Game as a player; of course, he would manage the National League in the 1991 game after his Cincinnati Reds won the pennant and World Series the previous year. Richie Scheinblum (1972) Piniella was joined on the All-Star team by his outfield mate, Scheinblum. Actually, Amos Otis also made the team, so the Royals’ entire starting outfield was selected, along with second baseman Cookie Rojas. Also, manager Bob Lemon was named as one of Weaver’s coaches for the game, giving Kansas City five representatives. Scheinblum, who was in his first year with the Royals after playing sparingly for Cleveland and Washington, was having the season of his life. He was leading the league with a .325 average when the reserves were selected (while Piniella was second, Otis was third at .309). “I’m glad all three of us were picked. I thought maybe they’d take two–but not three. This is probably more of a thrill for me than the others. This time last year, I was in the minors. I’m not fast on the bases or in the outfield, but I give 100 percent. I’m just glad people have noticed I’m hitting.”--Scheinblum, quoted by Sid Bordman, The Kansas City Star, July 21, 1972 Despite that scouting report, Scheinblum did get to play in the game, replacing Bobby Murcer in the outfield in the sixth inning. He only got one at-bat, a groundout that came just after Rojas hit a two-run home run to give the AL the lead. Scheinblum finished the year with a .300/.383/.418 line, and the Royals wisely sold high, trading him to Cincinnati after the season for Hal McRae, a deal which helped launch Kansas City’s decade-plus of strong teams. Scheinblum would be done as a major leaguer after the 1974 season, and this was his only appearance in the Midsummer Classic. Larry Gura (1980) Larry Gura went 16-4 with a 2.72 ERA in 1978 and finished seventh in the Cy Young vote. He didn’t make the All-Star team. In 1979, he fell back to a 13-12 mark with a 4.47 ERA. But in 1980, he found himself with a 10-3 record and a 2.09 ERA at the end of June. That got him the nod from AL manager Weaver, one of just eight pitchers selected by the Baltimore manager. A soft-tossing southpaw, Gura was the proverbial “crafty lefty.” The 1980 season was the only time he reached the 100 mark for strikeouts, but he won 126 games in the majors, 111 of them for the Royals. Not bad for a pitcher the team acquired for catcher Fran Healy, whose career ended after one game in the 1978 season. As for being an All-Star, Gura didn’t seem to be overwhelmed by the news. “Maybe when I’m out of baseball, looking back, it’ll mean a lot more. Baseball for us is such an everyday thing, routine. So often we have to go out tomorrow and forget today even happened.” --Gura, quoted by Mike McKenzie, The Kansas City Times, July 8, 1980 Presumably, Gura did not forget his experience at the game, although he did not appear in the NL’s 4-2 win. He did enjoy two more finishes in the top ten of Cy Young voting and was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame in 1992, but never made another All-Star team. Kevin Seitzer (1987) If Kevin Seitzer felt any pressure about taking over third base from Royals legend George Brett (who moved over to first base full-time during the 1987 season), he certainly didn’t show it. He made the All-Star team as a rookie, thanks to a .306/.389/.418 line through July 11, when he was named to the team…as an injury replacement for Brett, of course. With the news coming just a few days before the game, Seitzer’s plans for the break were thrown into chaos. “This is just a drastic change in plans for me. Everything’s screwed up. I left my good clothes at the cleaners before the road trip, and I’ve got to fly from here (to Oakland).”--Seitzer, quoted by Jack Etkin, The Kansas City Star, July 12, 1987 But Seitzer was more ready mentally. “I’m expecting I’m going to play because they want me to back up (Wade) Boggs. I imagine I’ll get an at-bat. If I don’t, it’s an honor just to be there.”--Seitzer, quoted by Jack Etkin, The Kansas City Star, July 12, 1987 In fact, Seitzer got two at-bats, plus a walk, after he replaced Boggs following the fifth inning. He almost won the game for the AL, too. Facing Lee Smith in the bottom of the 10th of a scoreless tie, he hit a fly ball to deep center field. Alas, it was caught on the warning track for the last out. Leading off the 12th, after the NL scored two runs in the top of the inning, he drew that walk, but never made it off first base. Seitzer ended his rookie year with a .323/.399/.470 line, 15 homers, 83 RBI, and a league-leading 207 hits. A lot of years that would earn him a Rookie of the Year award, but this happened to be the season Mark McGwire bashed 49 home runs, so Seitzer finished second in the voting. He made one more All-Star team in his career, representing Milwaukee in the 1995 contest. This time, he got to pinch-hit for Boggs, a story he should tell his grandkids until they get sick of it. Kurt Stillwell (1988) After years of light-hitting shortstops, the Royals thought they had solved that problem when they traded for Kurt Stillwell, sending pitcher Danny Jackson to Cincinnati before the 1988 season. It was a trade that helped both teams right away, because Jackson won 23 games for the Reds, while Stillwell hit .251/.322/.399 for the Royals. That may not seem great, but compared to what the Royals had been getting from that spot, it was basically Bobby Witt Jr. Anyway, Stillwell did have some good fortune in his selection; both Alan Trammell (the winner of the fan voting) and Ozzie Guillen (Trammell’s replacement), suffered injuries in early July. Stillwell himself was battling a slight groin pull, but the news of his selection helped him feel better. “I thought I could have played the last three days, anyway. (The Royals) were just being cautious. And with the All-Star break, they wanted to take advantage of it. I won’t be able to get the rest they wanted now, but hey, if they wanted me this bad, I’m going to make the most of it. It’s hard for me to believe everything worked out for me the way it did. I’m still in shock. Everything went my way, kind of like I’m the alternate to the alternate.” --Stillwell, quoted by Bob Nightengale, The Kansas City Times, July 11, 1988 Stillwell finally got in the game in the bottom of the ninth, with the AL clinging to a 2-1 lead. He at least did get to catch the first out of the inning, and the AL held on to the lead. That would be it for Stillwell’s All-Star appearances. After two good seasons and two subpar ones in Kansas City, he bounced around as a free agent for a few seasons, but never really came close to his 1988 success again. Bo Jackson (1989) It’s hard to do much better in your All-Star Game debut than Bo Jackson did. In his third full season, he was elected to start the game by the fans; in fact, he was the AL’s leading vote-getter. Of course, he was one of the most famous baseball players in the country, thanks to his football “hobby.” He was having a good season, too, hitting .268/.308/.525 with 18 home runs, 52 RBI, and 20 stolen bases through the end of June. AL manager Tony La Russa, who had seen Jackson’s talent plenty as the manager of the Oakland A’s, mused about batting him leadoff in the All-Star Game. “It doesn’t matter, just being on the field in Anaheim that night, that’s all that matters. It’s all God-given talent, so I don’t give myself credit for doing anything. It means something special, but you can’t let that stuff sink into your head because then you start believing you’re better than you are. I let it go in one ear and out the other.” --Jackson, quoted by Dick Kaegel, The Kansas City Times, July 6, 1989 LaRussa did put Jackson in the leadoff spot, and it paid off. The pregame talk was that the start time would make it hard for hitters to see the ball in the twilight in Anaheim. But the NL scored two runs in the top of the first, and Jackson led off the bottom of the inning with a mammoth blast to center field, roughly 450 feet away from the plate. He was hardly done showing off his talent. In the second inning, he showcased his speed, beating out a relay throw on a double play and allowing the go-ahead run to score. He then stole second and moved up to third when the throw sailed into center field (the home run and stolen base combo put him in an exclusive club with Willie Mays at the time). He also singled in the game and walked away with the MVP trophy. Oh, and Nike premiered the “Bo Knows” TV spot during the game. Not a bad night’s work! Most people watching that night likely thought this was just the first of many All-Star Games featuring Bo, but as we know now, it was not to be. Despite a solid first half in 1990, he was not selected for the team. Then, in January 1991, he suffered a hip injury while playing football for the Los Angeles Raiders. It ended his football career, and his baseball career was never the same; just the fact that he came back to the sport and even played after having that hip replacement was amazing enough. So this was Bo’s one All-Star appearance, but it was certainly a memorable one. View the full article

Miguel Andujar seemed like a classic pickup for the San Diego Padres in the A.J. Preller era: an affordable journeyman who was brought in to lend the team one, specific skill. In this case, it was to hit left-handed pitching, and that’s exactly what he did in March and April. But like the rest of the team, Andjuar’s performance cratered in May and June. Now, he’s on the injured list with a hamstring strain, creating more uncertainty for an underperforming lineup. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. The Padres signed Andujar to a one-year deal to be a part-time DH, splitting time with Gavin Sheets' left-handed power bat, as well as to be a key contributor off the bench. The DH is “probably a spot that we’re going to keep open throughout the season, be able to give Manny [Machado] a day DH-ing, Xander [Bogaerts] a day DH-ing, Fernando [Tatis Jr.], [Ramón] Laureano, [Jackson] Merrill,” manager Craig Stammen said after Andujar’s signing was announced in February. “I think it’s a strategic way to keep those guys a little fresher during the season.” The Padres’ offensive woes and injury problems dashed that wishful preseason thinking. Infielder Jake Cronenworth has been sidelined for weeks due to lingering concussion symptoms, which has forced Sheets to become an everyday first baseman. That’d be fine if Sheets wasn’t a terrible defender and could hit lefties. The Nick Castellanos experiment lasted all of 110 days. Laureano played with a hip injury until he simply couldn’t anymore. And regularly resting the star players is out of the question with such a thin lineup and worsening record. All of this has resulted in Andujar becoming the de facto everyday designated hitter, and for a while that was working out. During the Padres 67 games before he went on the IL, Andujar appeared in 45 of them as the DH. In March and April, his OPS stood at .830 and he routinely batted in the two-hole. It was a continuation of a resurgent career year in 2025, when he had .822 OPS and accrued 1.1 fWAR. Against lefties, he nearly had an 1.000 OPS. In the first month of this season, he was easily one of the team's best hitters, and dating back to last season, which he spent with the Athletics and Cincinnati Reds, he had been one of the better platoon bats in baseball. A decent OPS in May of .670 and a woeful OPS in June of .461 quieted that feel-good story. Before his hamstring injury, he was playing like one of the worst hitters in baseball, though his is a weird profile. He has hit the ball hard all season, and his barrel rates, exit velocities, and strikeout rate aren’t out of line with career averages. Still, his slash line and expected outcomes have fallen off a cliff. If there's one culprit, then it’s his chase rate. Andujar has a lifetime 37.1% chase rate, and in 2018 and 2025, his two best seasons, he had chase rates no more than 36.2%. His strong performance this past March and April aligns with that precedent. His chase rate was 35.6%, but then it leapt up to 43.9% in May and an intolerable 46.2% in June. Over the course of a season, that would be, by far, his worst chase rate. It makes sense, then, why in June he has been batting, by far, the worst in his career. Concurrently, his swing rate is up from 50.5% in March and April to 56.9% in June. Why is Andujar swinging more, especially at pitches outside of the zone? Maybe weighing on his shoulders is an anemic offense. He could be pressing to make up for the lineup’s deficiencies. Maybe he has devolved into bad habits as the season grinds on. Refocusing on the basics—stop swinging at bad pitches—wouldn’t hurt. In any case, the Padres simply cannot afford June Andujar to return from the IL. They need April Andujar. But the biggest problem with Andujar doesn’t rest with the man himself. It’s with Tatis and Machado and Cronenworth and all the other regulars who, because of their lack of performance, made Andujar’s output essential. He was signed by the Padres to play a supporting role, but thus far, he’s had to do so much more. View the full article

Throughout the 2025 and 2026 seasons, the Royals have ranked among the least productive offenses against left-handed pitching. What stands out is not merely the outcome, but how they arrived there. Unlike many teams that populate the bottom of these leaderboards, Kansas City's struggles are not driven by excessive strikeout rates. This is not a lineup incapable of putting the ball in play. The issue has been more nuanced: a combination of insufficient offensive production, a lack of consistent power, and key hitters failing to perform. Team vs LHP (2025-26) AVG xBA OBP xOBP SLG xSLG ISO K% Royals .237 .242 .308 .314 .362 .387 .124 20.70% MLB Average .242 .240 .310 .313 .392 .396 .150 22.60% The Royals have been slightly below the MLB average in both batting average and on-base percentage, but the real gap emerges in slugging and power production. Their .124 ISO ranks among the lowest marks in baseball, while their .362 slugging percentage also sits well below league average. Expected metrics add another important layer to the discussion. Kansas City has not produced contact as poor as the traditional results suggest. Their xbA, xOBP, and xSLG have all been slightly better than their actual numbers, indicating that some degree of poor fortune has influenced the results. The gap, however, is not large enough to alter the broader conclusion. Even if performance had matched the expected metrics exactly, the Royals would still project as a below-average offense against left-handed pitching. The root of the problem becomes apparent when examining who has actually carried the offense. Player PA vs LHP wRC+ 2025 wRC+ 2026 Bobby Witt Jr. 209 135 141 Maikel Garcia 187 155 181 Vinnie Pasquantino 240 63 9 While much of the lineup has oscillated between productive and disappointing seasons, Witt and Garcia have been the only true constants. Witt has posted a wRC+ above 135 in both campaigns, combining plate discipline, quality contact, and enough power to punish mistakes. His production against left-handers is that of an established star. Garcia has been every bit as impressive. After recording a 155 wRC+ against left-handed pitching in 2025, he has elevated that figure to 181 in 2026. His blend of contact ability, plate discipline, and extra-base production has allowed him to become one of the organization’s most effective hitters against southpaws. The problem is that the story largely ends there. If Witt and Garcia represent stability, Pasquantino represents perhaps the most concerning challenge facing the lineup moving forward. He produced a 63 wRC+ against left-handed pitching in 2025. Rather than showing signs of improvement, his production has collapsed to an astonishingly low 9 wRC+ in 2026. Player PA vs LHP AVG OBP SLG wRC+ Vinnie Pasquantino (2025) 164 .212 .250 .364 63 Vinnie Pasquantino (2026) 76 .143 .211 .186 9 The decline is particularly troubling because Pasquantino is not a complementary piece within the offensive structure. He is one of the hitters Kansas City expects to build around. When a player with that profile performs significantly below league average against left-handed pitching for two consecutive seasons, the lineup’s margin for error shrinks considerably. Pitch-type data helps explain part of the struggle. Over the last two seasons, Pasquantino has repeatedly struggled against left-handed sliders, while even his results against fastballs have been inconsistent. His production with runners in scoring position has also offered little indication that a breakthrough is imminent. The Royals’ inconsistency, however, extends well beyond Pasquantino. Salvador Perez provides a different version of the same problem. After posting just a 45 wRC+ against left-handed pitching in 2025, the veteran catcher has rebounded significantly in 2026, raising that figure to 119. The improvement has given the lineup an additional source of offense that was largely absent the previous year, but it also highlights the lack of stability that has defined this group. While Witt and Garcia have maintained high levels of production across both seasons, several of the roster’s most important hitters have swung from one extreme to the other from year to year. Jonathan India offers another example. He produced a near-average 91 wRC+ against lefties in 2025 before slipping to 68 in 2026. Kyle Isbel has gone from a 56 wRC+ to a startling -4. Isaac Collins owns just a 30 wRC+ against left-handed pitching in 2026. Even some of the more encouraging recent contributions from Nick Loftin and Lane Thomas have come in relatively small samples. The result is a lineup that rarely stacks enough legitimate threats together when facing quality left-handed starters. That lack of depth becomes even more apparent in the game’s highest-leverage situations. Royals vs LHP with RISP (2025-26) AVG OBP SLG HR% K% Royals .247 .327 .367 1.8 17.5% MLB Average .249 .330 .394 2.5 21.6% At first glance, the Royals appear competitive in both batting average and strikeout rate. Yet once again, the same pattern emerges: a lack of impact. Their slugging percentage sits well below the league average, while their home-run rate ranks as the fourth-lowest in baseball during the period examined. Production with runners in scoring position has not been distributed evenly either. Witt, Garcia, and a handful of timely contributions from Loftin have generated positive results, but much of the rest of the lineup has struggled to convert opportunities into meaningful damage. That is why Kansas City's struggles against left-handed pitching cannot be explained by a single statistic or one underperforming player. The organization has two hitters who have consistently demonstrated the ability to thrive in these matchups. It has also received occasional contributions from other members of the roster. What it has not found is a sufficiently broad offensive foundation capable of supporting those strengths. As long as Witt and Garcia remain the only truly reliable pillars against left-handed pitching, Kansas City will continue to rely on too many things breaking right at the same time. Over the last two seasons, that has proven to be a formula that rarely works. View the full article

Player value can change quickly in baseball. A strong season can elevate a prospect or veteran into a cornerstone asset, while injuries and prolonged struggles can rapidly alter a player's standing within an organization. Coming into 2026, the Twins believed they had a roster capable of competing in the American League Central. Several players were viewed as foundational pieces for both the present and future, even if some of the prospect luster had worn away. However, the first few months of the season have significantly changed the outlook for some of those players. Here are the five Twins whose value has fallen the most since Opening Day. 5. Luke Keaschall TD Pre-Season Asset Rank: 2 Few players generated more excitement entering the season than Luke Keaschall. After bursting onto the scene during a 49-game rookie campaign, he looked like a future fixture near the top of Minnesota's lineup. Keaschall posted a 129 OPS+ in 2025 while going 14-for-17 on stolen-base attempts, showing the blend of contact skills, on-base ability, and athleticism that made him one of the organization's most valuable assets. Twins Daily ranked him as the club's second-most valuable asset behind only Walker Jenkins. The 2026 season started about as poorly as possible. Keaschall carried a .542 OPS through the season's first month and struggled to make consistent hard contact. To his credit, he began showing signs of life in June, posting a .790 OPS while continuing to provide value on the bases. Even with the recent improvement, questions have emerged. Keaschall leads the Twins with 10 stolen bases and posted an on-base percentage of nearly 40% during May, but power production has been almost nonexistent. He has just 12 extra-base hits in 227 at-bats, limiting his offensive impact. Defensively, the results haven't helped his case either. He owns a -2 Fielding Run Value and -3 Outs Above Average at second base. The long-term outlook remains positive, but his value is no longer at the near-untouchable level it occupied entering the season. 4. Pablo López TD Pre-Season Asset Rank: 4 The biggest concern surrounding Pablo López entering 2026 was health. Despite being limited to just 14 starts in 2025 because of a right hamstring strain, a right teres major strain, and a right forearm strain, López remained dominant when healthy. He posted a 2.74 ERA, 3.19 FIP, and 1.11 WHIP, giving Minnesota every reason to believe he could once again anchor the rotation. Instead, disaster struck before the season ever got underway. López suffered a season-ending elbow injury during spring training and eventually underwent Tommy John surgery. He never threw a pitch during the regular season and is not expected back until early 2027. The injury dramatically altered his value. Not only did the Twins lose one of their best pitchers, but any possibility of a deadline trade vanished. Minnesota now faces uncertainty about which López version will return following surgery and how his contract situation could be affected by upcoming collective bargaining negotiations. For a player viewed as one of the organization's most valuable assets entering the year, the drop has been substantial. 3. Royce Lewis TD Pre-Season Asset Rank: 13 The optimism surrounding Royce Lewis this spring felt different than in previous years. New manager Derek Shelton made Lewis a priority shortly after being hired, and the former No. 1 overall pick spent the offseason working with a new swing coach in hopes of rediscovering the offensive form that once made him one of baseball's brightest young stars. The Twins believed there was still plenty of upside remaining. Instead, Lewis continued a troubling trend that has stretched back nearly two years. Before being demoted to Triple-A St. Paul, Lewis hit just .163/.261/.279 with a 54 wRC+. The struggles were not simply the result of a slow start. Since August of 2024, he has produced a .213/.268/.336 slash line with a 67 wRC+ across 181 major-league games. The Twins finally made the difficult decision to send him to Triple-A, where he immediately reminded everyone of his talent. Lewis crushed Triple-A pitching, hitting .340 with eight home runs in just 13 games. That performance earned him another opportunity in Minnesota, but his long-term value is no longer built on potential alone. The final months of 2026 may determine whether Lewis can still be viewed as a cornerstone piece or if his future role becomes much less certain. 2. Matt Wallner TD Pre-Season Asset Rank: 12 Matt Wallner entered the season with plenty to prove, but there was also reason for optimism. Although he posted a 111 OPS+ in 2025, it represented a noticeable step backward from the production he delivered in 2023 and 2024. Even so, many believed Wallner could recapture the form that allowed him to average 2.2 rWAR during those two seasons. Instead, his performance deteriorated even further. Wallner was one of the least productive players in baseball during the season's opening weeks, producing a 53 OPS+ and accumulating -1.3 rWAR in just 34 games. The struggles became severe enough that the Twins followed the same path they used with Lewis, sending him to Triple-A to reset. The early returns in St. Paul have been encouraging. Wallner owns a .886 OPS with six home runs and six doubles in 22 games. However, the larger trend remains concerning. Wallner has always been a streaky hitter whose power comes at a high cost, with a high swing-and-miss rate. The issue is that the overall production has now declined for two consecutive seasons. What once looked like a middle-of-the-order bat now comes with considerably more questions. 1. Simeon Woods Richardson TD Pre-Season Asset Rank: 6 No player on this list has seen his value collapse faster than Simeon Woods Richardson. Entering 2026, Woods Richardson looked like a reliable rotation piece. He wasn't expected to lead the staff, but his performance over the previous two seasons suggested he could comfortably hold down a middle-of-the-rotation role. From 2024-25, he posted a 4.11 ERA, 102 ERA+, and 1.29 WHIP while providing valuable innings. That stability completely disappeared this season. Woods Richardson struggled from the beginning and never found answers. In 47 2/3 innings with Minnesota, he allowed 41 earned runs while producing a 61 ERA+ and -1.3 rWAR. The performance became so poor that the Twins designated him for assignment and eventually traded him to Toronto for cash considerations. For a player who entered the season ranked sixth in organizational asset value, ending up off the roster within a few months represents one of the steepest declines imaginable. His value simply could not have fallen much further. Baseball has a way of humbling even the most optimistic projections. Just a few months ago, these five players represented key pieces of Minnesota's present and future. Some were expected to anchor the rotation, others were viewed as everyday lineup fixtures, and a few were considered among the organization's most valuable assets. The good news for the Twins is that value can rebound just as quickly as it falls. Keaschall, Lewis, and Wallner still have time to change the narrative before the season ends, while López's long-term outlook will depend on his recovery. Woods Richardson's chapter in Minnesota appears finished, but the others still have opportunities to reclaim some of the value they have lost. The remainder of the 2026 season could go a long way toward determining whether these declines are temporary setbacks or signs of larger concerns for the organization moving forward. Should any other players be added to the rankings? How would your rankings look? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article