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Avalanche Hope Fabian Lysell Becomes Next Nichushkin-Type Breakout Story

Fabian Lysell arrives in Denver as the latest low-risk, high-upside swing for a Colorado Avalanche team that has made a habit of betting on talent others couldn’t quite unlock.

The track record is real. Andre Burakovsky turned a fresh start into a Stanley Cup ring in Colorado. Valeri Nichushkin—once written off by some around the league—became an indispensable piece of a championship core after arriving in Denver via a change of scenery.

Valeri Nichushkin's impact on the Colorado Avalanche was undeniable. Credit: Jerome Miron - Imagn Images
Valeri Nichushkin's impact on the Colorado Avalanche was undeniable. Credit: Jerome Miron - Imagn Images

Nichushkin’s path stands as the clearest blueprint. After his career stalled with the Dallas Stars amid questions about consistency, fit, and whether his game would ever fully translate at the NHL level, he found new life in Colorado and eventually developed into one of the Avalanche’s most important players.

Now, it’s Lysell’s turn to see if he can follow a similar trajectory.

The Avalanche acquired the former first-round pick from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Ivan Ivan, a depth forward who spent much of last season with the Colorado Eagles but left a strong impression on teammates and within the organization.

Drafted 21st overall in 2021, Lysell has appeared in just 12 NHL games to this point in his career. The flashes are easy to spot—the pace, the hands, the creativity that once made him a top prospect—but he has yet to find real traction at the NHL level or steady consistency in Providence.

A 50-point season in 2023-24 looked like a potential turning point. Instead, it was followed by 34 points in 52 games in 2024-25 and 42 points in 57 games this past season, leaving his development stuck in neutral rather than accelerating forward.

Part of that responsibility sits with the player, as it does with any prospect trying to establish himself. But there’s also a broader question of fit and development in Boston—whether Lysell was ever given the runway to lean fully into the offensive instincts that made him a first-round pick, or instead asked to adapt before his game was truly ready.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney hinted at that complexity when addressing the move.

“He hasn't fully grasped at the NHL level what it probably requires to play each and every night. He took ownership of that today,” Sweeney said. “We took ownership that, could we have done more and better in supporting him? Probably.”

Now, the reset begins.

When Lysell eventually makes his way to Denver for offseason training and pre-camp preparation, the spotlight shifts to how quickly he can translate talent into trust at the NHL level—and whether the Avalanche can unlock something Boston couldn’t consistently sustain.

Before turning pro in North America, Lysell developed in Sweden, spending parts of two seasons with Luleå HF in the SHL while also starring for Frölunda’s junior program. He posted three points (2G, 1A) in 26 SHL games during the 2020-21 season.

After being selected in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, he came to North America and found immediate offensive success with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants in 2021-22, finishing with 62 points (22 goals, 40 assists) in 53 regular-season games. He elevated further in the postseason with 21 points (4 goals, 17 assists) in 12 playoff games, leading the WHL in assists that spring.

Internationally, Lysell has represented Sweden at the 2021 U18 World Championship and back-to-back World Junior Championships in 2022 and 2023, earning bronze medals at both the U18 and 2022 World Junior tournaments.

For Colorado, the talent is the easy part to see. The harder question is whether structure, opportunity, and patience under Jared Bednar can turn it into something permanent.

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Luis Lara’s Power Surge, Explained

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 22: Luis Lara #89 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during the third inning of the spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch on February 22, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Luis Lara looked like he had solved the biggest question surrounding his prospect profile.

Through May 6, the recently extended outfield prospect had already hit seven home runs, shattering his previous career-high of four. It looked like he’d finally unlocked his power.

Nearly two months later, he still has exactly seven home runs.

March 27–May 6: 7 HR, 4 2B, 1 3B

May 7–June 27: 0 HR, 5 2B, 1 3B

The initial surge vaulted Lara up prospect rankings. Baseball America now ranks him No. 52 in all of baseball, while MLB Pipeline has him No. 89. Yet Pipeline still grades his power as just a 40 on the 20–80 scouting scale, well behind his 70-grade defense and 60-grade arm and speed.

So which version of Lara should Brewers fans believe? Was his early-season power surge real? To answer that question, we need to look beyond the home run totals and into Lara’s underlying Statcast data.

As the Brewers saw during their recent series in Las Vegas, Triple-A environments can be considerably more favorable for hitters than major league parks. Home run totals alone don’t necessarily tell the whole story. To determine whether Lara’s early power surge represented a legitimate change in skill, we need to look beneath the results.

Thanks to the recent expansion of Statcast to Triple-A, we can do exactly that. Lara’s batted-ball data provides four useful indicators of raw power: average exit velocity, maximum exit velocity, 90th-percentile exit velocity, and hard-hit rate.

Average Exit Velocity: 80.68 mph

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 99.4 mph

Maximum Exit Velocity: 109 mph

Hard-hit Rate: 20.72%

At first glance, Lara’s Statcast profile doesn’t scream plus raw power. His average exit velocity is below average, and his 90th-percentile exit velocity is solid rather than elite. On the other hand, his 109-mph maximum exit velocity shows the raw strength is there when he squares the ball up.

The disconnect is consistency. Lara’s 20.7% hard-hit rate is well below the roughly 33% major league average, suggesting he currently doesn’t produce loud contact often enough to project as a true power hitter.

Statcast defines a hard-hit ball as one struck at least 95 mph because that’s where offensive production begins to spike. Leaguewide, balls hit at least 95 mph produce dramatically better results than those hit below that threshold. In 2023, hitters batted .506 on hard-hit balls compared to just .221 on all other balls, which is why hard-hit rate has become one of the most useful indicators of a hitter’s ability to consistently drive the baseball.

Lara’s hard-hit rate sits at just 20.7%, well below the roughly 33% mark that represents a typical major league average. In other words, while Lara has demonstrated that he can hit the ball exceptionally hard, he simply hasn’t done so often enough for the data to suggest a meaningful change in his underlying power profile.

The ideal comparison would be Lara’s Statcast profile this season versus last season. Unfortunately, he spent all of last year in Double-A, and Statcast data from that level isn’t publicly available.

Instead, we can compare the two very different halves of Lara’s 2026 season: the six-week stretch in which he hit seven home runs and the seven-week drought that followed. That split offers the clearest window into whether anything actually changed beneath the surface.

March 27 – May 6:

Average Exit Velocity: 83 mph

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 100.2 mph

Maximum Exit Velocity: 109 mph

Hard-hit Rate: 28.25%

May 7 – June 27:

Average Exit Velocity: 80.05 mph

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 98.9 mph

Maximum Exit Velocity: 108.5 mph

Hard-hit Rate: 18.34%

Lara’s average, 90th-percentile, and maximum exit velocities didn’t change drastically.

What jumps out is his hard-hit rate, which dropped by roughly one-third. Combined with his average exit velocity falling nearly three mph, it suggests that while the shape of Lara’s contact remained largely unchanged, the quality of that contact declined. But why?

My first thought was that perhaps Lara’s launch angle had changed. It hadn’t. His average launch angle fell from 19 degrees before May 7 to just 18 degrees afterward — a negligible difference.

Next, I wondered whether Lara had changed his approach at the plate, sacrificing power for contact. The numbers don’t support that idea either. Through May 6, he struck out 18 times in 123 plate appearances (14.6%). Since then, he’s struck out 25 times in 172 plate appearances (14.5%). His batting average also remained remarkably consistent, dropping only from .333 to .324.

Finally, I considered whether the power outage could simply be the product of bad luck. If that were the case, one would expect fewer balls in play to fall for hits. Instead, the opposite happened. Lara’s BABIP actually increased from .347 before May 7 to .391 afterward, suggesting that balls in play were becoming hits more often, not less.

The biggest change appears to be in Lara’s approach at the plate. His first-pitch strike rate — the percentage of plate appearances that began with an 0-1 count — rose from 38.9% to 44.8%, almost exactly mirroring the increase in his overall swing rate (38.3% to 43.2%). His chase rate climbed slightly, his contact rate dipped slightly, and his in-zone swing rate jumped from 57.6% to 63.9%.

All things considered, those numbers suggest Lara became more aggressive after his power surge. Pitchers weren’t attacking the strike zone any more frequently, and aside from a modest decrease in fastballs, they weren’t pitching him that differently. Instead, Lara appears to have expanded his swing decisions. Because he’s such a good contact hitter, that added aggression didn’t translate into more strikeouts or a lower batting average. It may, however, have led him to swing at pitches he was less likely to drive.

If that’s the case, the issue isn’t that Lara’s raw power disappeared. It’s that he stopped getting to it as consistently. The underlying strength is still there; the challenge now is being selective enough to access it more often.

As I wrote about last week, even if Lara never develops into a 20-home-run hitter, extending him was still a good idea. A plus defender in center field with elite speed, excellent bat-to-ball skills, and an above-average on-base profile has plenty of value on his own.

The encouraging part is that the raw power doesn’t appear to be missing — it simply isn’t showing up consistently. Lara has already demonstrated that he can drive the baseball at 109 mph, an exit velocity that few players reach by accident. The challenge isn’t adding strength; it’s learning to produce that kind of contact more often by continuing to make quality swing decisions.

That’s one reason the extension makes sense. Milwaukee has built one of baseball’s strongest player-development systems by helping talented hitters maximize the tools they already possess. Lara already has the bat speed to produce 109-mph exit velocities. If the Brewers can help him pair that raw power with more consistent swing decisions, there’s another level for his offensive game to reach. And if they can’t, his defense, speed, and contact ability still give him the profile of an everyday major leaguer.

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Phillies on the Pharm: 6/28/2026

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 16: Tanner Banks #58 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch during a game against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on June 16, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 8-2. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Let’s dive into the action!

Lehigh Valley 8, Syracuse 6

The IronPigs score six runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to take the 8-6 lead that would go onto be the final score. Kolby Allard threw 5.1 innings of 6-hit, 3-run ball. Old friend Tanner Banks struggles in his 1.1 innings of ball with 3 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks. The offense had the long ball working with Dylan Moore (3), Bryan De La Cruz (12), Dylan Carlsson (5), and Rene Pinto (1) all mashing one. Shockingly Felix Reyes DID NOT hit one tonight, go figure.

Reading 14, Altoona 5

In one of Jean Cabrera’s best outings of the season, he goes 4 innings giving up only 1 run on 2 hits and 2 walks. Progress! Like the IronPigs, the ball was flying out of the park up in Altoona with Luke Ritter (1,2), Bryan Rincon (11), Raylin Heredia (14), Alex Binelas (18) and Bryson Ware (13) all sharing in the glory.

Brooklyn 9, Jersey Shore 1

A rough one all-around for the BlueClaws as Tanner Gresham and Titan Kennedy-Hayes combine giving up 8 runs (6 earned) over 6.1 innings. Devin Saltiban was 2 for 4 on the night and Tyler Pettorini had the only extra-base hit for Jersey Shore.

Clearwater 17, Jupiter 6

Somehow the Threshers scored 17 runs and only had one homer (a two-run shot from Griffin Burkholder, his 7th). They had 7 run first inning and a 6 run 7th innings. Ryan Degges started the game on rehab, giving up 1 run in 2 innings of work. Zuher Yousuf pitched the bulk of the game with 4 innings of work, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks.

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Chicago Cubs news — Suzuki, Palencia, Milner, Brown

Today’s Reflections

Jacob Misiorowski. Sheesh. Why can’t the Cubs find and develops guys with just 80 percent of his ability (because there’s no possibility of hitting 100 percent because he’s a freak (respectively)).

Kudos to Seiya Suzuki for picking out a 90 mile per hour slider and sending it over the wall. And for Colin Rea’s yeoman performance by finishing five innings of work, allowing just one run out of eight baserunners and striking out four.

But – the bullpen. Ethan Roberts blew a save (in the sixth) and Jayden Murray allowed a home run to blow the game open. These men would be used in mop-up duty in a normal Cubs bullpen, but it is what it is. They need help here as much as starting pitching.

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Stories from Friday’s game:

Let’s see if there are any injuries on the Cubs’ pitching staff, shall we?:

Assorted Stories:

Food For Thought:

Albert Collins (October 1, 1932 – November 24, 1993) was an American electric blues guitarist and singer with a distinctive guitar style. He was noted for his powerful playing and his use of altered tunings and a capo. His long association with the Fender Telecaster led to the title “The Master of the Telecaster”.

Robert Cray (born August 1, 1953) is an American blues guitarist and singer. He has led his own band and won five Grammy Awards. By the age of 20, Cray had seen his heroes Albert Collins, Freddie King and Muddy Waters in concert and decided to form his own band. Two albums on HighTone Records in the mid-1980s, Bad Influence and False Accusations, were moderately successful in the United States and in Europe, where he was building a reputation as a live artist.[4] In 1985, he released the album Showdown! with his hero Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland.

John Copeland (March 27, 1937 – July 3, 1997) was an American Texas blues guitarist and singer. In 1983, he was named Blues Entertainer of the Year by the Blues Foundation. He is the father of blues singer Shemekia Copeland. In 2017, Copeland was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

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This Week in Purple: A Good Man

Jun 26, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (15) celebrates hitting a two run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Hunter Goodman is having a fairly different season than he did when he was an All-Star in 2025. He’s chasing and striking out more and hitting less for average. The trade-off is that the 26-year-old catcher is obliterating baseballs at an alarming pace.

Between Friday and Saturday, Goodman hit four home runs. He hit home runs in three straight at-bats, and hit three home runs on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins. He became the 21st player in Rockies history to hit three home runs in a game.

What’s more wild about Goodman’s season is that the bulk of the damage is coming away from the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field. After Saturday, his 18 home runs on the road prior to the All-Star Game are the most in franchise history. This sets him above Larry Walker, who hit 16 home runs before the break in his 1997 MVP campaign.

Goodman now has 25 home runs this season. He is the fourth catcher in Major League history to have 25 or more home runs before the All-Star Game, and the first to do it since Hall of Famer Johnny Bench in 1970 with 28. There are 15 games left for the Rockies to play before the break, and Goodman will have the chance to pass catchers Iván Rodríguez (26) and Bench for their pre-break home run totals. He can also become the first Rockies player in franchise history to hit 30 or more home runs before the break.

Recently we explored the idea of trading Hunter Goodman as part of the Rockies’ rebuild. However, fans were in agreement that Goodman is one to keep and build around for the future. With him proving his 31 home run season in 2025 wasn’t a fluke and performing more than adequately behind the plate–and getting excellent results from ABS challenges while doing so–Hunter Goodman might be proving a perfect piece to build around.

With that being said, here’s what our staff here at Purple Row had to say this week:

To Read: Rockpiles

To Read: News

Weekly Discussion Topics

Back near the end of 2022, I praised Hunter Goodman as an unsung prospect who could even stick around as a catcher if the Rockies didn’t choose to move him to first base or the outfield. Nearly four years later, Goodman is one of the Rockies’ most valuable players and appears to be on track to become a franchise great.

Who is a prospect you ended up being right about–for better or for worse–in Rockies history? Let us know in the comments!

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Swanson: You're up, Rob Pelinka. To avoid Ned Colletti's fate, the Lakers' GM has to deliver this offseason

Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' general manager and president of basketball operations, glances to his left during a news conference
Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' general manager and president of basketball operations, glances to his left during a news conference. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

If only. If Rob Pelinka could use the Dodgers’ blueprint to renovate, Lakers fans wouldn’t even be sweating this summer.

But, you know. Baseballs and basketballs, apples and oranges.

The windup and sales pitch are the same, though: Deliver a sustainable, high-rising, championship build. On time and … about that budget. One team has none. The other’s is tight.

In baseball, they wear caps. In the NBA, they’re compelled to stay under them.

In baseball, they can swing freely (for now). In basketball, they’re hamstrung by aprons.

Ned Colletti had it easier, and he lasted only two relatively successful seasons in his role as Dodgers general manager after Mark Walter’s Guggenheim Baseball Management group bought the ballclub in 2012.

Read more:Cameron Carr on Lakers acquiring him draft night: 'It didn't feel real'

Pelinka has it tougher as the Lakers’ general manager and president of basketball operations. But like Colletti before him, with Walter having purchased the majority stake in the Lakers, Pelinka is going to have to crash the hourglass and build a winner with haste. Er, the winner.

If the Lakers lay anything but an 18th brick on their championship foundation in the next couple seasons, Pelinka’s story probably is going to go a lot like Colletti’s.

When free agency opens Tuesday, Pelinka is just going to have to show us how creative he can be, how clever and cunning.

He already hit a grand slam with the Luka Doncic trade in 2025. In one of the NBA’s all-time heists, Pelinka brought the then-25-year-old Slovenian superstar to L.A. from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for essentially an aging and injury-prone Anthony Davis and just one first-round draft pick.

Before that, Pelinka hit another home run with Austin Reaves; a four-bagger so deep that Doncic’s undrafted backcourt-mate has now procured the proverbial bag. (Four years, $185 million worth of baggage to the Lakers.)

With those pillars cemented, Pelinka’s job is delivering the A-list center Doncic reportedly desires.

Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, left, talks to reporters during the introductoy news conference for Luka Doncic, right.
Lakers GM Rob Pelinka pulled off a blockbuster trade to acquire Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic. Can Pelinka build a winner around Doncic? (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Doesn’t matter that all the perceivable candidates — from the Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler to the New York Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Myles Turner, the Detroit Pistons’ Jalen Duren, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Jarrett Allen, the Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford, even old friend A.D. — sit on a spectrum of unlikely to unwise.

Still, the best plan: Make Doncic happy; make a run at Kessler.

He’s a 24-year-old, defensively adept big man who would be a great pickup, just hard to get. But whether it’s overpaying in restricted free agency or working out a sign-and-trade deal, pry him away from the Jazz.

After nailing down a center, Pelinka also needs to really hit on the margins. Because in the modern NBA, the marginal is major.

The current contenders have depth borne of seasons spent tanking and loading up in the draft on athletic, affordable young talent or, in the case of the recently crowned Knicks, having a leading man take $113 million less than he was eligible for, as Jalen Brunson effectively did, to be able to play with his best buds.

In L.A., the Lakers don’t really have the first option and shouldn’t ever expect the second.

But Pelinka doesn’t have to swing for the fences every time; he doesn’t need to wow us now, he needs to have wowed us later. Take swings like he did trading for Rui Hachimura or netting sharpshooter Luke Kennard.

Former Laker Pau Gasol, right, speaks with GM Rob Pelinka during a Lakers practice in 2025.
Former Laker Pau Gasol, right, speaks with GM Rob Pelinka during a Lakers practice in 2025. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

No one bats 1.000, of course, not even Andrew Friedman, the architect of the Dodgers’ three World Series titles since taking over as president of baseball operations in 2014.

But for the Lakers’ potential $51 million of cap space, for all of this summer’s much-hyped optionality, Pelinka’s competitive new boss isn’t the type to forgive errors that are forever front of mind for the Lakers’ faithful.

Pelinka can’t strike out on free agent signees like Gabe Vincent and Kendrick Nunn. Can’t let someone like Alex Caruso walk. Can’t whiff on draftees like Dalton Knecht or Jalen Hood-Schifino — and better hope he hasn’t on this year’s selection, Cameron Carr, who fell to the Lakers at No. 24.

The wrinkle, this offseason: Last year’s Lakers — 41-year-old LeBron James, Hachimura, Kennard and, if he opts out, Marcus Smart — will be among the most attractive free agents on the market, and they’re proven fits for a team that reached the second round of the playoffs.

But merely re-signing those guys won’t improve the Lakers’ odds of getting past the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs.

And simply outspending those teams isn’t an option, either. So Pelinka is going to have to go bargain hunting, he’s got to find some hidden gems, pull some tricks out of his sleeve. Surprise us, like great general managers are supposed to do.

This is Pelinka’s opportunity to show us his blueprint for bringing another title to Los Angeles, to build a case for himself.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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NHL Rumors: 3 Penguins Featured On New Trade Board

NHL insider Frank Seravalli released his latest trade board for Hockey 24/7, and three Pittsburgh Penguins were among the players featured on it. Tommy Novak, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust all made the cut. 

Novak was given the No. 23 spot on Seravalli's trade board. The 29-year-old forward is entering the final season of his contract in 2026-27 and will be a pending UFA. With this, he could be a decent trade chip for the Penguins to dangle if they do not view him as a long-term part of their plans. He is a solid top-nine forward, as evidenced by his 16 goals and 42 points in 82 games last season. 

Rakell was given the No. 24 spot, and it makes sense when noting that he has created plenty of chatter in the rumor mill for a long time now. With this year's UFA class not being strong, the Penguins could get a significant return for a top-six forward like Rakell. In 60 games last season for Pittsburgh, he had 24 goals and 48 points.

As for Rust, he landed the No. 37 spot on Seravalli's trade board. Like Rakell, he has been a popular name in the rumor mill for a while now. The Penguins trading Rust would be significant, as he has spent his entire 12-year career in Pittsburgh. However, it could be worth dealing him if they get a significant offer. In 72 games last season, he had 29 goals and 65 points. 

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Former Duke Star Amile Jefferson To Coach Boston’s Summer League Team

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 27: Assistant Coach Amile Jefferson and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics embrace after the game against the Indiana Pacers during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 27, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Things have seemed somewhat quiet lately for former Duke star and assistant coach Amile Jefferson since moving from Durham to Boston to be an assistant with the Celtics, but that’s from the outside.

He’s an assistant. By definition, he’s a background figure for the team, at least as far as the public is concerned. That will change soon, however.

When Boston starts Summer League play starts on July 10, they’re entrusting their roster to Coach Jefferson.

Among other things, this will be their first time seeing draftee Chris Cenac on the court, and Jefferson might be the ideal guy to mentor him.

When he was a freshman at Duke, injuries forced him into action too soon, and he took his lumps.

After that, he bulked up, and emerged as a force for the Blue Devils, and was a key to Duke’s 2015 national championship. That should resonate with Cenac, who arrives after just one year at Houston.

It’s not clear who else will be on the roster yet, but if Cenac is smart, he’ll listen to Jefferson, because that guy can really help.

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Maple Leafs GM John Chayka Leaves Door Open On Goaltending Upgrade Ahead Of NHL Free Agency, What About Sergei Bobrovsky?

In his first media availability following the conclusion of the 2026 NHL Draft, Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka addressed a wide range of topics, but questions about the club’s goaltending future carried particular weight. With a veteran Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, getting a tender of quality like the two-time Stanley Cup champion could certainly look like an upgrade, for the right price.

The Leafs made one significant roster adjustment on draft weekend, sending defenseman Brandon Carlo to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for third-round picks No. 73 and 76. Chayka called the decision tough but necessary to create future value and roster flexibility. 

“For Brandon, I think it was a fresh start. And so I think that’s important to him. I think it’s a good fit with St. Louis,” he said. “And I think it’s a good fit for us to get some fresh blood in the back end.” 

The move also aligned with Chayka’s desire to alter how the team defends and transitions the puck. It’s a position he’s been consistent about since taking on the role in May.

Just days earlier, Toronto had demonstrated its willingness to move quickly on goaltending assets. Acquired from Philadelphia in the mid-June Joseph Woll trade, goaltender Samuel Ersson was flipped to the Ottawa Senators for a 2027 fifth-round pick. Chayka described it as pure asset management. 

“He was a part of the transaction, and the harvesting of their asset off of that transaction made a lot of sense for us,” he explained.

Talks with Ersson’s camp about a potential fit and contract ultimately led the Leafs to prioritize the return over retention.That backdrop made Chayka’s comments on the current goaltending situation and future plans especially relevant. The Leafs enter the summer with Anthony Stolarz as their primary netminder and a developing pipeline that includes recent draft selections Artur Akhtyamov and Dennis Hildeby. But is that enough to go with next season?

“We’ve got this really interesting goalie pipeline,” he said. “And part of our evaluation is the young guys and what they’ve shown. So I think we’re trying to balance that. Anthony’s (Stolarz) been, by our models, a top goalie the last two years. Obviously health and durability has been the question, but we can’t guarantee that it’s going to be different. On another goalie that we bring in, that’s always a bit of a question mark. So we’re trying to find some balance in all of that, but it’s a key position, and if there’s a chance to make it better, like any position, we’ll do that. But that’s where we’re at today.”

Toronto selected two goalies as part of a broader 10-pick haul at the Draft. 

Financially, the Leafs are well-positioned to act if the right opportunity presents itself. Following the Carlo trade and other adjustments, Toronto projects to have approximately $22 million in cap space for the 2026-27 season against the NHL’s $104 million ceiling, per PuckPedia.com. 

“I think we’re going to try to make the team better. I think that’s an avenue for us. And up to today we created more flexibility even with the move,” he said. 

Would the Leafs be willing to pull off a Darren Raddysh-style move before free agency? Chayka poured cold water on the idea. But you have to wonder if they are done in goal or if another move at the position is coming.

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Canadiens Go For Size On Day Two

If the first-round of the 2026 NHL Draft dragged on, things proceeded much faster on Saturday, as is customary; still, the seven rounds took over five hours to wrap up. As always, there was a lot of pick swapping, and the feel-good story of the day was the Pittsburgh Penguins picking Markus Ruck at 39th overall, allowing him to join his twin brother, Liam, who they had picked up on Friday. Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings drafted Derek Roy’s son, Victor, two years after picking his brother Max.

Just like on Friday, the Montreal Canadiens made a trade to move up in the second round. They sent pick 61 and pick 125 to the Carolina Hurricanes and then selected Timofei Runtso. The 6-foot-2 and 186-pound right-shot defenseman was ranked 48th among North American skaters. Playing in the WHL with the Victoria Royals, he put 44 points in 68 games. The soon-to-be 19-year-old was ignored at last year's draft but became a fast riser on the Central Scouting list thanks to a breakthrough season with the Royals after joining from the St. Cloud Norsemen of the North American Hockey League, a tier two junior league.

Update On Gleb Pugachyov And His Potential Impact On The Prospect Pool
Canadiens’ Hughes Confident He Can Make A Move And How The Stars Might Align For Marchenko
Canadiens Move Up And Get A Big Winger In First Round

At number 93, they picked Cooper Cleaves, yet another big right-shot defenseman out of Dartmouth College. The 6-foot-3 blueliner weighs in at 203 pounds and put up 10 points in 30 games. He projects as a depth defenseman and describes himself as a two-way defenseman. Last summer, he attended the Canadiens development camp. He also played with Emmett Croteau, a Canadiens’ goaltending prospect this season. Interestingly, he played with Martin St-Louis’ kids growing up and told the media he was very tight with them. He’ll be going back to college for his sophomore season.

With pick number 117, the Canadiens went for yet another defenseman, a left shot one who’s 6-foot and 174 pounds and in his first year of eligibility: Brayden Klimpke. He put up 46 points in 68 games with the Saskatoon Blades. Described as big and tough, he’s a two-way defenseman and was an alternate captain last season. He has some leadership qualities, and he’s described as a character guy with a high compete level.

Montreal then went for a couple of forwards at picks 189 and 190. The former was used to select Parker Trottier, the grandson of former NHL legend Bryan Trottier. While the youngster has great bloodlines, his game is not the same as his grandad’s. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, the USNTDP product is a power forward who loves to finish his checks, works hard on the forecheck and is good at puck retrieval. All the little things Canadiens’ coach Martin St-Louis classifies as “not fun to do” but that must be done to win hockey games.

At 190, the Habs picked up Wesley Royston, also a winger but with an even bigger body at 6-foot-4 and 186 pounds. He only picked up 19 points in 59 games played, mostly with the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL. He has rare speed for a player of his size, and he loves laying big hits all over the ice.

The Canadiens had three picks in the seventh and last round: 221, 223, and 224, but they traded pick 223 to the Los Angeles Kings in return for the California side’s seventh-round pick in 2027. With pick number 221, Montreal selected Jean-Samuel Daigneault, a 6-foot-3 and 190-pound left-shot blueliner who specializes in hitting opponents hard and often. Finally, with pick 224, they opted for forward Tyler Deakos, a 6-foot-1, 174-pound right winger.

This year's draft for the Canadiens can be summed up in two words: size and aggression. As Kent Hughes said on Friday night, the team is no longer just looking to add talented pieces; they are also looking for pieces to address particular needs. Should the Habs fail to address their size issue via trade, this draft class should definitely help down the line.

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Flyers Draft Wrap: Pick Grades, Outlook, What Comes Next

All things square, the Philadelphia Flyers failed to leave the NHL Draft with more than one or two good-value selections. and it makes you wonder about where things are headed for the organization in the near future.

The crown jewel of their draft class, the Flyers drafted Maksim Sokolovskii with the 27th overall pick after trading down with the San Jose Sharks to recoup some mid-round draft capital.

In a vacuum, I actually liked this pick.

Reviewing the Flyers' 2026 Draft Class

Sokolovskii, a 6-foot-7 monster on defense who actively seeks to punish his opponents, has a ton of potential. He's quite young for this draft class, is already filled out at 240 pounds, and defends well and hits hard.

The best way to look at this pick is that the Flyers basically have five or six years to teach him how to play offense and do stuff with the puck.

Sokolovskii is a wildly good skater for his size and has enough talent to put moves on defenders, but his passing ability isn't very expansive, needs to learn how to shoot (when and where, not how hard), and needs to practice making decisions under pressure.

Why Flyers Drafted Maksim Sokolovskii With 27th PickWhy Flyers Drafted Maksim Sokolovskii With 27th PickThe Philadelphia Flyers explained their rationale for the surprising but exciting selection of Maksim Sokolovskii in the 2026 NHL Draft.

The physicality and stick work are already good, but the Flyers are going to need to teach Sokolovskii how to do anything with the puck on his stick and in the opposing zone. Flyers general manager Danny Briere believes that the massive Kazakh rearguard made significant strides throughout the year, and how far Sokolovskii can go will determine if he's a first-pair guy or a third-pair guy at the NHL level.

Another question I have with the Sokolovskii selection: who is he going to play with? As a natural insulator, you have to imagine he would be best suited playing alongside an offensive player. Is that Jamie Drysdale? That's looking increasingly unlikely.

The Flyers left this draft without a true power play specialist or offensive defenseman, and that's a sticking point for me, even if it doesn't have anything to do with Sokolovskii directly.

He already struggles with the puck, and the last thing the Flyers should want to do is stick him with another defenseman who either can't skate or pass the puck, or both.

Grade: B

I was less a fan of the Brek Liske pick at 53rd overall in the second round.

Liske is a 6-foot-2 right-shot defenseman, but the Flyers already have a ton of those. Think names like Oliver Bonk, David Jiricek, Spencer Gill, Carter Amico, Luke Vlooswyk, Austin Moline, and even Helge Grans. Why use a third second-round pick in as many drafts on another right-shot?

Liske is a well-rounded defender who doesn't do anything particularly special, and his draft stock was undoubtedly boosted by a WHL playoff run that saw him score 17 points in 18 games, despite having only 24 in 52 regular season games.

Left-shot defensemen Alexander Bilecki and Ben MacBeath, who are both highly regarded for their skating ability and are both 6-foot-2, would have been much better choices if defense was the play.

Grade: C

Goalie Martin Psohlavec was a fine bet at 62nd overall, but this goalie class was not the greatest, and a second-round pick felt a bit rich, even with his outstanding size (6-foot-5) and production. He went one spot ahead of MacBeath, who was picked by the rival New York Rangers.

Grade: C+

Exclusive Q&A: Flyers GM Danny Briere on Matthew Schaefer's Calder, Top Prospects, and Free AgencyExclusive Q&A: Flyers GM Danny Briere on Matthew Schaefer's Calder, Top Prospects, and Free AgencyIn an interview with The Hockey News, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere discusses his top prospects, former players, free agency, and more.

With their next selection, the Flyers went with another Czech goalie in Marek Sklenicka, who is 6-foot-4 and quite athletic for his size. Sklenicka, all things considered, was a better value pick than Psohlavec was.

Grade: B

Flyers' Strange Asset Management

The Flyers hadn't drafted a goalie since 2023 before this draft, but it is a bit strange that they both drafted two of them and did so back-to-back.

It is unfortunate that high-upside talents like Mikey Berchild and Lavr Gashilov went to two rivals in the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils, respectively, in the same round the Flyers drafted Sklenicka.

Sure, the Flyers didn't have many draft picks, but it would have been nice to see them get aggressive and move up to get someone they really want.

Berchild (105th) and Gashilov (119th) weren't out of reach with the Flyers sitting at 120th, but they opted for the goalie in Sklenicka instead of a forward.

Speaking of forwards, the only forward the Flyers drafted in 2026 was K.J. Sauer, who played high school hockey for Andover High in Minnesota before getting into 13 games with the USHL Lincoln Stars.

He's big and physical, but we'll have to wait until he plays for the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings next year to get a better read.

Alex Bump was drafted out of high school, after all, but this is a file-it-away pick until this time next year. Beckham Edwards and Giorgos Pantellas were still on the board here, and better options at that.

Grade: D

With their last pick in the 2026 draft, the Flyers took Max Laatikainen, a smaller Finnish defender at 5-foot-11 who played in some Liiga games last season, 213th overall. He picked up two assists in six games for Kiekko-Espoo.

NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Weighing Zach Werenski TradeNHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Weighing Zach Werenski TradeAccording to multiple reports, the Philadelphia Flyers are heavily considering a trade for superstar defenseman Zach Werenski.

Laatikainen was one of five draft-eligible players to record multiple points in Liiga this season.

Alberts Smits, Oliver Suvanto, and Juho Piiparinen were all first-round picks (and regulars), and Anttoni Uronen went to Columbus in Round 6.

Laatikainen played in 23 fewer games than Piiparinen and had only one less assist, so there's potential there.

Grade: A

Similarly to Max Westergard last year, I liked that the Flyers threw a dart at a kid who already played some pro hockey and was productive doing it, especially compared to much more esteemed peers.

The Flyers' Path Ahead

Overall, though, it was a pretty uninspiring draft for the Flyers, who made some boring picks going after the same traits as always: size and experience.

The Flyers did not draft any speed or skill this year whatsoever, and that isn't hyperbole.

It is a recurring theme, at this point, in the fourth draft I covered since I started writing about the Flyers in 2023.

It hasn't all been bad, to be fair, but the lows have been too low, and the highs haven't been high enough.

That 2023 draft saw the Flyers take Carter Sotheran and Matteo Mann, and neither player signed a contract with the team. Alex Ciernik, injury issues notwithstanding, was probably lucky to get a contract from the Flyers, too.

The 2022 draft was Cutter Gauthier and... that was what it was. In 2021, the Flyers traded their first-round pick for Rasmus Ristolainen, and used their second-round pick to take Samu Tuomaala, who isn't with the team anymore and has yet to play an NHL game, over Logan Stankoven and Matthew Knies.

In 2024, it was Jett Luchanko over Konsta Helenius, and in 2025, it was Jack Nesbitt over Jackson Smith and Cam Reid.

Overall, the Flyers have just made a habit of making uninspiring picks and hunting for concepts of players, rather than the players themselves.

The outlook in Philadelphia hasn't changed much after this draft, and that isn't a good thing. This draft class will likely hinge entirely on the continued development of Sokolovskii.

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Rise and Phight: 6/28/2026

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 26: Tommy Pham #39 of the New York Mets bats during the fifth inning of game one of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field on April 26, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Heather Khalifa/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Phillies News:

MLB News:

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Orioles news: Mike Elias on the direction of the team

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 09: General Manager Mike Elias of the Baltimore Orioles watches the Orioles Hall of Fame ceremony before the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Athletics at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 09, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Hello, friends.

The 2026 Orioles are at it again. This is not a complimentary statement. Last night’s loss, good grief, what can you even say at this point? They find ways to lose. They should be better than a team that finds ways to lose and they aren’t. There’s a lamentable amount of ongoing bumbling. Not even Brandon Young as the starting pitcher makes them immune to this occurring. They are sticking to a variety of philosophies that do not seem to be working out for them with a “captain goes down with the ship” level of dedication. Check out Paul Folkemer’s recap of the game for yet another edition of the not-so-lovely totals.

In news that takes on a darkly comic shade after what happened in last night’s game, Mike Elias put in some time with Orioles reporters ahead of the Saturday contest and made some pronouncements that include: “We’re going for it. I’ll let you know if that changes” and “I think we’re going to be good” and “we see a lot of good things in the operation” and “we think we have really good people here.” It’s not the kind of funny that makes you laugh.

I’m sure that Elias also wishes the team had played better immediately following his staking out those kinds of positions. I can sympathize with him. I’ve been in the “You say something and the Orioles make you look stupid not long after” game for longer than he has. I have put my share of cold takes on this website in the past and will end up making them for as long as I am around. You’re never going to say anything interesting about this team (or any team) if you are worried that you’re going to look dumb for saying it. That’s the truth.

Then again Elias isn’t getting paid for takes, he’s getting paid to have the Orioles win games. Or that’s the assumption all but the most dedicated cynics would make. They aren’t winning enough games. They haven’t won enough games dating back to just about two years exactly from right now. That’s a long time in baseball. It’s about as long as it was fun to be a fan coming out of the tanking years. July 2022 through June 2024 were fun. July 2024 through now have not been fun. If they don’t fix this thing next month, the not-fun has gone on longer than the fun ever did. That sucks.

The Elias presser also included a question about whether he feels the pressure to have the Orioles improve, which seems like it was a polite phrasing of “Do you think you might get fired?” To that, Elias said, “I always feel a lot of pressure in this position … Every single year I’ve felt pressure and you worry about your job in this business. So absolutely. But I think we have a really good chance of doing what we want to do and we’re all working very hard and we’re all very optimistic about it.”

I mentioned, above, that there is a captain going down with the ship dedication going on here. The ship is sinking. He’s not abandoning it. There’s a nobility in that. But for the time being there’s not a winning record, and since they’re six games below .500, there won’t be a winning record for at least another seven games.

The Orioles will try to win the series against their southern neighbors with a 1:35 game today. The Nationals starting pitcher, Zack Littell, is not left-handed, so maybe they have a chance. He has an ERA of 5.40, so maybe they don’t have a chance. Kyle Bradish is pitching for the Orioles today, so maybe they have a chance. We’ll see how it shakes out.

Orioles stuff you might have missed

Mike Elias says, “We’re going for it. I’ll let you know if that changes” (Steve on Baseball)
I’ve seen this movie before. Elias says something that, if you take it to its logical conclusion, means he’s going to do things. Then he doesn’t do things that live up to what he said.

Mike Elias on Adley Rutschman: “We want him here forever” (The Baltimore Sun)
You’re one of the two people on this planet, along with David Rubenstein, who can make this happen! If you really want him here forever, sign him to the deal. Otherwise it’s disingenuous to say stuff like this.

Orioles reinstate Cade Povich from injured list, option him to Norfolk (Baltimore Baseball)
One small bit of Orioles news yesterday is that the team quietly activated Povich from his rehab stint and sent him back to the minors. He didn’t have a good rehab stint, so it’s no surprise to see him not getting a big league spot right now.

Chris Bassitt undergoes “very minor” back surgery to remove bone spur (The Baltimore Banner)
Article also includes a variety of other injury updates, including that Dean Kremer is “close” and that Elias is “pretty excited” about Félix Bautista’s recovery.

Gunnar gives back: Local kid surprised with specialized cleats (Orioles.com)
The feel-good stories feel better when the Orioles win and not as good when they don’t.

One pitching prospect the Verge’s Nick Stevens just can’t stop watching (Orioles on the Verge)
The Verge is diving down into the Dominican Summer League to find an interesting young lefty, Kelvin Zapata, who the team signed last year.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

Of all the players to ever play for the Orioles, only a single one was ever born on this day: 1970-75 outfielder Don Baylor. He passed away in 2017 at age 68.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: Methodism leader John Wesley (1703), actor and movie maker Mel Brooks (1926), actress Kathy Bates (1948), and YouTuber Markiplier (1989).

On this day in history…

In 1870, the first federal holidays were established by Congress. In the first batch: New Year Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

In 1914, Austria’s Archduke Franz Ferdinand and wife Sophie were killed by a gunman in Sarajevo. This is the incident that proved to be the lighting of the match of what became World War I.

In 1969, a police raid on a gay bar in Manhattan called the Stonewall Inn sparked riots and demonstrations, an event now recognized as the start of the gay rights movement.

In 1997, boxer Mike Tyson bit off a part of opponent Evander Holyfield’s ear during a rematch between the two men. Tyson was disqualified.

**

And that’s the way it is in Birdland on June 28. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!

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'He cares about people.' How Dodgers' Dave Roberts got to the cusp of 1,000 career wins

A photo illustration of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts for his thousandth win.
Dave Roberts, in his 11th season as manager of the Dodgers, has won three World Series titles and five National League pennants. (Photo illustration by Tate Rudisill / Los Angeles Times; photos by Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images, Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images, Steph Chambers / Getty Images, Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)

Dave Roberts didn’t have his heart set on becoming a manager.

Not when he cold-called Jed Hoyer, who’d just been hired as the San Diego Padres’ general manager, to offer his help and eventually accepted a special assistant role in the front office. Not when Bud Black, the Padres’ manager at the time, asked Roberts to be his first base coach. Not even when Roberts was promoted to bench coach — at least not at first.

But television didn’t feel like a long-term fit, and neither did his cup of coffee as an executive. Roberts’ return to the dugout gained its own momentum.

“I like to be in the clubhouse,” Roberts said in a recent conversation with The Times. “I like to be boots on the ground more. … So once I got on the field, I was like, ‘Yeah, this is what feels right for me.’”

Roberts’ first taste of the manager’s seat wasn’t how he would have scripted it. A.J. Preller, the Padres’ third GM in five years, dismissed Black in the middle of the 2015 season, leaving Roberts as the interim skipper for a game before Pat Murphy was promoted from triple A.

Read more:Kyle Tucker and Dalton Rushing rebound with consecutive homers, Dodgers rout Padres

Roberts’ first win came the next year, after the Dodgers hired him to replace Don Mattingly. In Roberts’ Dodgers debut, on opening day at Petco Park, his team trounced the Padres 15-0.

Roberts is back in San Diego for a weekend series against the Padres, just three wins away from 1,000 after Saturday’s 15-3 victory, in a full-circle moment.

Only two other active managers have racked up more wins: Terry Francona (2,072), who began his managerial career in 1997, and AJ Hinch (999), who had a smaller head start on Roberts.

“It’s a big number,” said Roberts, who will join Walter Alston, Tommy Lasorda and Wilbert Robinson as the only managers in franchise history to win 1,000 games. “It’s something I never really thought of. … I don’t take a lot of time to look at milestones because I just kind of go day to day. But I’m going to take that one in. Because it’s a long time, it’s a lot of really good players and coaches, and a lot of support.”

Roberts is in his 11th season at the helm for the Dodgers, with three years left after this one on his record-breaking extension ($8.1 million annually). He’s taken the Dodgers to the postseason every year, won five National League pennants and claimed three World Series titles.

“To be the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, so much pressure, so much expectations, to have Doc as our manager leading it, I don’t think there’s anybody that could do what he does,” veteran first baseman Freddie Freeman said.

The Dodgers are now an international brand, with star power from across the globe, including the most famous baseball player in the world in Shohei Ohtani. So, every homestand, after Roberts fulfills his media responsibilities and oversees batting practice, he serves as an ambassador of sorts.

Roberts greets groups of guests and celebrities with enthusiasm, engages them in conversation and poses for pictures.

That talent, however, isn’t why this group of Dodgers — full of household names, but also young players expected to grow into key roles — has bought in.

Read more:Shaikin: Did Padres curse themselves by messing with that anti-Dodgers FTD burger?

“He cares about people,” Freeman said. “His door’s always open. Being a manager is obviously managing baseball, but it’s more about managing egos. You have 26 players, you have all the coaching staff, support staff — and our clubhouse runs smoothly, and that’s because of Dave Roberts.

“He’s a man that’s been through it all. He was a player. He knows how hard the game is. He’s been in the manager seat for a long time here. He knows the ups and downs of the season. We trust him. He trusts us. And I think that’s the key word in all this, is trust. When you have trust with your manager, and know he’s going to put you in the right spots to succeed, it’s very easy to run through walls for him.”

That trust is built through a track record of decisions that prioritize things like player health. But it also stems from genuine care.

“Ever since I got here, the first impression of him was how good he was with people,” said veteran utility man Miguel Rojas, who hopes to become a manager after he hangs up his cleats. “How much he cares about families, how much he cares about where you’re coming from and who is the support system that you have around you. He cares about you as a person more than as a player.”

In April, when Rojas got news that his father had been rushed to the hospital, Roberts quickly took the decision on whether to play out of Rojas’ hands, scratching him from the lineup.

“He was the first one to tell me that family is way more important than what we’re doing right now,” Rojas said.

The next day, when Rojas felt he needed to be on the field as he processed the death of his father, Roberts listened.

On the other side of the equation, Rojas also thinks Roberts has made him a better father to his son Aaron, who is often around the team throughout the summer.

Roberts doesn’t just flash his people skills when he’s in ambassador mode. Earlier this month, Roberts spotted Aaron in one of the armchairs in the middle of the visitors clubhouse in Pittsburgh. Roberts beelined to him, cracking inside jokes to gently prod him out of his shell.

“My kid, when I got here in 2023, he’s not the same kid that he is now,” Rojas said. “He was 6 or 7 years old when I got back to the Dodgers. And Doc really sees the way that he’s evolving as a human, being more outspoken and open to say hi to people, to have conversations with the coaches and all the players — and it’s not just with the kids or me. So it’s pretty cool to see that [Roberts] helped me with him too, with his social skills that he was trying to develop.”

Managers’ jobs often veer toward the bigger picture. Their coaching staff deals with the details. But Roberts finds moments to pull players aside for one-on-one conversations.

“I enjoy that part more than anything,” Roberts said. “It’s the least talked about, but I think it’s the most important part of my job, trying to build men. And that’s something that I’ve always believed, that if you do it the right way, then the fruits will be a better ballplayer.”

Anyone watching the Dodgers broadcast last Wednesday saw Roberts put his arm around catcher Dalton Rushing’s shoulders after a rough first two innings led to Ohtani taking over calling the pitches.

That same series, outfielder Alex Call thanked Roberts and the Dodgers hitting coaches for conversations that set him up for a breakout in Minnesota.

“Doc does a great job just telling how it is,” Call said. “And saying, ‘hey, we love you, and we love exactly what you bring to the game, and you don’t have to do anything else. So, basically, just take a deep breath and be Alex Call.’ And it’s just nice to hear that kind of stuff, and just nice to be able to have your manager have confidence in you.”

During the last homestand, the day after the bottom of the order struck out consecutively with the bases loaded in what became a walk-off win against the Baltimore Orioles, Roberts called over Ryan Ward and Alex Freeland in the dugout during batting practice.

Read more:Shohei Ohtani takes control of Dodgers' win after miscommunication with Dalton Rushing

As they discussed situational hitting, Roberts wanted to encourage them rather than “get on them.” Ward said the conversation took off some pressure.

“All you hear about is, the big leagues is way different,” said Ward, who debuted in April. “And just having those little moments of reassurance, and having them talk to you and pull you aside, and giving you props, and helping you where things have gone wrong — and having that advice come from him, and feel the [organizational] continuity of everything, is incredible.”

When Roberts’ playing career ended, he might not have pictured himself sitting in this seat at all, let alone for nearly 1,000 wins.

But as he positions himself at the top step of the dugout at Petco Park, back where it all started, it sure does suit him.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Yankees prospects: Ben Hess allows one hit to help Somerset split doubleheader

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:L, 3-4 at Indianapolis Indians

2B Marco Luciano 2-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB, K throwing error — produced half the hits and all the ribbies, but the rest of the offense didn’t do much
DH Yanquiel Fernández 0-4, 2 K, GIDP
C Garrett Martin 0-4, K
3B Tyler Hardman 0-3, BB, K
1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. 1-4, K
SS Jonathan Ornelas 0-3, K
C Payton Henry 0-3, K
LF Duke Ellis 0-3, K, picked off
RF Kenedy Corona 1-3, 2B

Brendan Beck 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 5 K
Angel Chivilli 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Eric Reyzelman 0.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K — hooboy, tough birthday for Reyzelman; the first two hits were infield singles, but he then walked a guy another hit before getting pulled
Dylan Coleman 0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K — allowed a single and a walk-off walk to seal the rough loss

Double-A Somerset Patriots:L, 5-6 (7) and W, 5-1 (7) at New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Game 1

RF Jackson Castillo 0-2, 2 BB, K
CF Jace Avina 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI — double put Somerset ahead in the third
DH DJ Gladney 0-3, BB, K
1B Nicholas Torres 1-3, BB, RBI, K
3B Coby Morales 2-3, 2B, RBI, GIDP
C Tomas Frick 1-3
LF Josh Moylan 0-3, 2 K
SS Kevin Verde 0-2, K
PH Miguel Palma 1-1, RBI — tied game with pinch-hit single in the sixth
2B Santiago Gomez 0-0
2B-SS Connor McGinnis 1-2, 2B, BB, GIDP

Chase Hampton 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R (4 ER), 4 BB, 4 K, 2 pickoff errors — not his day
Chris Kean 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K
Trent Sellers 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K (loss) — allowed walk-off double to Hedbert Perez

Game 2

RF Jackson Castillo 1-4, 2B, RBI
DH Jace Avina 1-4, 2 K
CF DJ Gladney 0-4, 2 K
1B Nicholas Torres 0-3, K
3B Coby Morales 0-1, 2 BB
C Manny Palencia 0-3, 2 K
LF Josh Moylan 1-2, 2B, BB, K
SS Kevin Verde 1-2, RBI — tied it up in the fifth with an RBI single
PH Miguel Palma 1-1, RBI — drove in go-ahead run in the seventh, second big pinch-hit of the day
2B Santiago Gomez 0-0
2B-SS Connor McGinnis 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI — two-run double added in four-run seventh

Ben Hess 4.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, HR — only hit allowed was a solo shot in the third, now up to 65 pitches in gradual buildup
Tony Rossi 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K (win)
Harrison Cohen 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades:Rained out at Bowling Green Hot Rods — doubleheader scheduled for today, beginning at 12:05pm ET

Low-A Tampa Tarpons:W, 8-0 at Dunedin Blue Jays

3B Jackson Lovich 2-4, 2B, BB, RBI, K — doubled in three-run second
CF Brando Mayea 1-4, BB, 2 K, SB
LF Luis Puello 2-5, RBI, CS
1B Hans Montero 0-3, 2 BB, SB — scored a run after swiping third on a strikeout and bad throw
SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek 1-5, 2B, RBI, 2 K — doubled in three-run first
DH Engelth Urena 0-4, RBI, 2 K
2B Luis Escudero 0-2, 2 BB, K
C Ediel Rivera 0-2, BB, K, HBP
RF Gabriel Lara 1-4

Tyler Boudreau 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, HBP (win) — shutout effort from 2025 UFA out of Texas Tech, 10 swings and misses
Brian Hendry 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K — no-hit relief to close it out

Florida Complex League Yankees:W, 3-2 (7) vs. FCL Blue Jays

3B Richard Matic 0-4, 3 K
LF Wilberson De Pena 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI — put Yanks up with two-run double in the fifth
C Queni Pineda 1-3, K — opposing catcher committed an error to allow walk-off run to score in final frame
2B Leni Done 1-2, SB, HBP
CF Jose Castro 0-3, K
DH Francisco Vilorio 1-3, SB
SS Dexters Peralta 0-2, IBB, 2 K
RF Estivenzon Montero 0-3, GIDP
1B Christofer Reyes 1-2, BB, K, SB — walked, stole second, and moved to third on a fliner in last inning

Sabier Marte 5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, HR, WP
Rafael Arias 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Hueston Morrill 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (win) — rehab assignment

Dominican Summer League Yankees:W, 7-2 at DSL Miami

CF Isaias Castillo 1-3, 2 BB, 2 K
SS Stiven Marinez 1-3, BB, 2 K, SB, CS, HBP
RF Yostin Pena 1-2, 3 BB, 2 RBI — drew game-tying walk, which turned out to score two because of a throwing error by the other catcher; ah, the DSL
2B Juan Torres 0-4, BB, 2 K
DH Juan Martinez 0-5, RBI
C Cesar Lopez 0-4, BB, SB
LF Manuel Aguilar 1-5, 2B, K, SB
3B Abrahan Pichardo 1-3, BB, 2 K, SB
1B Edgar Jimenez 2-4, 2B, K, fielding error

Jhon Beltre 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, HBP
Yunior Jerez 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K (win) — dynamic relief, great work in essentially his fourth piggyback start
Breidy Adames 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 3 K — pro debut for June 16th IFA signee

Dominican Summer League Bombers:W, 11-6 vs. DSL Nationals

CF Alfiery Matos 1-3, 2 BB, RBI, 3 SB — both of the top two hitters in the lineup had three steals, nine on the day for Bombers despite one pickoff
2B Carlos Bello 0-4, BB, K, 3 SB
C Alessandro Rodriguez 0-4, BB, K
RF David Carrera 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI, SF, SB — double broke it open a bit for the final Bomber runs
SS Germayhoni Beltre 1-4, HR, BB, RBI, fielding error — first pro homer gave Bombers lead in the fifth
DH Poly Ojeda 1-3, BB, K
1B Stalen Ramirez 1-3, HR, BB, 3 RBI, K, fielding error — first pro homer tied game at 5-5 in the fourth
3B Adrian Feliz 1-4, K, GIDP, SB, throwing error, picked off
LF Eddison Charles 2-4, 3B, K, SB

Brandy Luis 1.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 0 K — pro debut for June 19th IFA signee
Sebastian Castillo 3.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, HR, WP — oddly got the only K’s of the day for Bombers
Ronald Tejada 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K (win)
Chaury Gomez 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K
Oscar Vasquez 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K