ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 10: Shay Whitcomb #14 of the Houston Astros celebrates after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 10, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Melina Pizano/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants have been hesitant to use the waiver wire this year, but on their Thursday off-day they utilized the tool for the third time this season. San Francisco announced that they had claimed infielder Shay Whitcomb off of waivers after he had been designated for assignment by the Houston Astros. Whitcomb has subsequently been optioned to AAA Sacramento. To make space for him on the 40-man roster, the Giants moved Trevor McDonald, who is out for the year with Tommy John surgery, to the 60-Day Injured List.
Whitcomb, a 27-year old right-hander, was the Astros’ 5th-round pick in 2020. He was drafted with a reputation for having a good speed and power combo, but a questionable hit tool that, unfortunately, has never materialized. In 102 plate appearances in the Majors, the UC San Diego alum has hit just .167/.216/.292, with a 28.4% strikeout rate. Unfortunately, he’s also been trending in the wrong direction: his debut season in 2024 was far and away his best, while over the last two seasons he’s combined to hit just 7-56 with three home runs, no doubles, one walk, and 21 strikeouts.
He’s also regressed a bit in the Minors. Whitcomb posted a 134 wRC+ in AAA in 2024 before his call-up, and a 122 wRC+ at the level a year ago. This season, he’s hit a hair below league average, with a 97 wRC+. He has stolen 23 bases, which is encouraging, though he’s yet to attempt a steal in 57 MLB games.
Most importantly, Whitcomb can play anywhere on the diamond. In AAA this season, he’s played every position except pitcher and catcher. The bulk of his reps have come at shortstop, third base, and catcher, so it’s not hard to see him having a role in San Francisco this year, given that Matt Chapman and Casey Schmitt are out for the year, Willie Adames is dealing with a back injury, and Heliot Ramos has been traded.
For now, though, he’ll stay in the Pacific Coast League and get acclimated with Sacramento. I’d expect him to be in San Francisco at some point in the next few weeks, though.
"These games are fun for me," Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said. "It's somewhere different. It's something that you remember more vividly than you would just another game somewhere else."
The Field of Dreams Game was last played in 2022, the second year in a row the made-for-TV contest was held after huge success and a thrilling New York Yankees-Chicago White Sox game in 2021. More than 25 Baseball Hall of Famers will be on hand for the event with the legends and current players expected to walk through the corn fields and emerge onto the field.
"It's going to be awesome," said Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber. "I've never been out there before, so I'm excited to see the corn, see the field they actually filmed it at. Just to be in that atmosphere."
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Where to watch Field of Dreams game
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET (pregame coverage begins at 6:30)
MLB lists the stadium's dimensions as 335 feet down both lines, 380 to the alleys and 400 to center field – with windows in the right-field wall looking out on the corn.
The Minnesota Twins, who are hosting this Field of Dreams game, have arrived on the field in Dyersville, Iowa. MLB Network reporter J.P. Morosi repots that the players are out on the field and starting to get ready.
Twins greats Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau are expected to walk out of the corn before the game, but they took the chance to make some personal memories before that. They went to the field the movie was filmed on and recreated the final emotional season. Mauer and Morneau were caught on camera having a catch with their sons on the same grass Kevin Costner did in 1989.
Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer playing catch with their sons at Field of Dreams pic.twitter.com/3LgJHL2IVr
Mauer, the St. Paul kid who went into the Hall of Fame in 2024, and Morneau, the 2006 AL MVP, hit in the middle of the Twins lineup together for seven seasons.
Twins manager Derek Shelton: "I think if I told my wife we bought a farm and I was going to build a baseball field and cut out half our income by doing it, she'd look at me like I was crazy."
Bryce Harper and Bryson Stott did a little pregame sightseeing. They stopped at the white farmhouse, the one Kevin Costner's Ray Kinsella lived in before pregame work on Thursday.
Bryce Harper and Bryson Stott stopped by the famous white farmhouse before tonight’s MLB at Field of Dreams Game 🤩 pic.twitter.com/2OHjDeQwo4
Harper has played in a World Series and a World Baseball Classic, but he'd never been here to Iowa. The Phillies took in the sights before getting down to business.
Bryson Stott's cleats for Thursday night tell the story the movie told. Phillies greats including Tug McGraw, Roy Halladay and Harry Kalas step out of the corn, painted on the leather of his cleats. He brings along the memories of men who are not around to be a part of this special night. McGraw struck out Willie Wilson to end the 1980 World Series and gave the Phillies their first title. Halladay threw a perfect game and postseason no-hitter in the same 2010 season. Kalas called it all for 38 years.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 1: Robert Suarez #75 of the Atlanta Braves is seen in the dugout during a Washington Nationals mound visit during the seventh inning at Truist Park on August 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Casey Sykes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ahead of yesterday’s series finale against the New York Mets, Braves manager Walt Weiss spoke to media about some pitchers we’re hoping are making their way back to the big club this season.
Robert Suarez
With every “Tyler Kinley in extras” and “Iggy stressfully closes the door”, the absence of Robert Suarez has been more and more deeply felt. The mystery around the right forearm tightness that has sidelined him since mid-June has finally cleared somewhat: we have finally heard that the righty setup man starts playing catch this week. He was shown briefly on last night’s broadcast in the dugout.
We’re hoping for minimal setbacks as he makes the steps toward a throwing progression and rehab. It goes without saying, but it would be ideal to get him back to fortify our bullpen and to get some meaningful outs this fall.
Spencer Schwellenbach
For those already nervous about the timeline laid out for Schwelly to return in ‘26, the latest update doesn’t do much to assauge the concerns. Mark Bowman reported that Spencer still “hasn’t felt 100%” in the bullpen sessions he started at the end of July. It’s not definitive that he won’t return, but he would need to progress to facing live hitters sooner rather than later – it’s already mid-August.
AJ Smith-Shawver
AJSS is fine – better than fine, actually. He’s been dominating in Triple-A Gwinnett as he works on polishing up the arsenal and getting deeper into games. We’ll likely see him back up for good for the rest of ‘26 soon, maybe even as soon as next week’s funky road trip. His role with the team, however, is still in discussion. There will be a bit of a rotation logjam with both his and Reynaldo López’s expected returns, and Weiss has made it known that he doesn’t favor a six-man rotation. Who becomes a bullpen weapon? We’ll have to wait and see.
MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04, 2026: Demetrio Crisantes #5 of the Arizona Diamondbacks warms up during the seventh inning of a spring training game against the Athletics at Hohokam Stadium on March 04, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Usually, these sorts of lists have minor, incremental changes from one release to the next. That’s usually informed by a promotion here and there and perhaps an occasional trade. A long-term injury can sometimes drop a prospect a bit. This update though, it’s pretty big. Arizona has promoted or traded a number of names from their top-30, have drafted a few names to add, and have also seen one of the bigger prospects on the list take a massive jump in the standings while last season’s top entry on this list has taken the biggest fall of all (Slade Caldwell falling from the pinnacle out of the top-20 entirely).
Did I mention that injuries can impact these lists? Because injuries can impact these lists. Like, a lot. This year’s Diamondbacks entry is proof of that. The organization should have been set up nicely by drafting the likes of Jordan Lawlar, Tommy Troy, Druw Jones, Slade Caldwell, and others. All four of those first selections have lost major development time to injury, preventing the likes of Jones or Caldwell from ever finding their groove. Numerous injuries on the 26-man roster have made it necessary for the Diamondbacks to promote aggressively from their farm system just to field a team. Five players on this list have already made their MLB debuts. Another handful have recently been promoted off this list having exhausted their rookie eleigibility. By the next time OPening Day rolls around, this list will likely look very different than it does right now.
Without further ado, here is the updated top-30 prospects list. Where applicable, I have listed the Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and Fangraphs rankings. Pipeline rankings do not include the addition of this season’s draft picks.
Standing 6’ 5” and throwing from the left side, Drake once, not long ago, represented the top arm in the system. Acquired at least season’s trade deadline, Drake brings above average command and improving velocity. Since being drafted, Drake has added roughly three miles per hour to the average velocity of his fastball. Problematically, Drake has not show the ability to maintain that velocity bump in 2026, where his velocity has now been somewhat all over the place. His fastball now has an uncertain range between 91-95 mph, with it looking more and more likely that he will finally settle in as a 91-93 mph arm that has a bit of reach-back available when necessary. Drake also sports a good curve, which is his best secondary pitch, while also featuring a changeup with about 10 mph of separation from his fastball. Drake works up around the letters to make his fastball play up. This results in Drake giving up a higher than average number of home runs. This has not been too much of an issue so far as he tends to miss up instead of down if he misses his spot. After some velocity and injury concerns, Kohl Drake was one of a number of players given the MLB nod ahead of schedule. The results have been mixed as Drake’s stuff is more of the good variety than it is of the great variety. He gets by mostly through unfamiliarity at this point, but has already flashed some signs that he could indeed stick as a back of the rotation starter.
9. Mitch Bratt – LHP (BA 12, MLB 8, FG 18)
Bratt’s fastball sits just 91-93 mph but he got a well above-average 31.8% whiff rate with it in 2025. He creates deception with the angles he throws from, and not only does he locate it well, but he is also fearlessly willing to attack hitters with it. He is just as aggressive with his mid-80s cutter, another pitch he uses to pound the zone and elicit whiffs (29.6%). He also throws a curveball and changeup, though the latter remains a work in progress, a tough pitch to master given his arm angle. He is an elite strike-thrower, issuing zero or one walk in 19 of his 24 outings in 2025. He earns high marks as a competitor and worker. That’s the good news, which is also a big part of the less than good news (but not necessarily bad).
This is where looking at minor league track records and extrapolating future success gets rough. Bratt is yet another prospect pressed into early service at the Major League level. Thus far, the results have been mixed, but largely positive. As expected, Bratt’s propensity to fill the zone with strikes (but not elite spin or velocity) has resulted in plenty of hard contact at the top level. His command is still elite, but his control has turned into something he is going to need to work on some more. The middle of the zone is not going to do Bratt any favours now that he is facing hitters who can identify the pitches more readily than those he faced in the minors. In the Majors, Bratt’s walk rate has exploded to over five. This, paired with a 1.34 HR/9 has resulted in some rough innings for the young lefty. Still, while pressed into service ahead of schedule, and facing some of the stiffest competition he could be asked to face, Bratt has acquitted himself nicely thus far, posting a 113 ERA+ across his first seven outings.
With upcoming potential roster crunch, it remains to be seen if Bratt, who profiles as a future #4/5 starter, will finish this season on the 26-man roster or not. Whether he does or not, he will almost certainly be on the shortlist for pitchers to fill out the rotation next season, as the rotation will feature at least the departures of Zac Gallen and Michael Soroka.
8. LuJames Groover – INF (BA 5, MLB 5, FG 8)
When Groover was first selected in the second round of the 2023 draft, he was considered one of the more polished hitters in the class. The questions regarding Groover mostly revolved around his ability to play the hot corner, a position he only moved to during his final season at NC State. Groover’s development was sidelined for a bit by a broken wrist suffered in one of his first professional games. While Groover got off to a bit of a slow start with the bat, his defense at third has improved dramatically and there is now a good chance he can stick at the hot corner. Over the last 18 months, Groover’s bat has taken off. Once he found his groove (no pun intended), Groover began to hit the ball with authority in the minors. Groover has a clean, direct bat path and little wasted movement in his swing. He has low swing and chase rates and rarely swings and misses. His lack of impact has long been a concern for evaluators; those concerns were exacerbated after he slugged only .434 with just 12 homers in 470 at-bats at hitter-friendly Amarillo. Some in the organization trust more power will come as he adds strength and experience; others believe he needs to make trade-offs to create more leverage, possibly at the expense of batting average. He has improved at third but still projects as fringe-average there.
An injury-induced cup of coffee in the Majors earlier this season showed that Groover needs to show he can hit for more power—and hit righthanded pitching better—in order to profile as an everyday player at either corner. But his hit tool gives him a good foundation and should earn him plenty of opportunities to improve moving forward. The current lack if in-game power is likely the reason that Groover does not land on most top-100 lists.
7. Jansel Luis – INF (BA 11, MLB 6, FG 2)
Given the way in which Mike Hazen has gone about stocking the organization from top to bottom, it will likely surprise no one to hear that Jansel Luis is an athletic, toolsy, switch-hitting infielder. Luis employs a simple swing from both sides of the plate and collects hits by virtue of his good hand-eye coordination. However, his propensity to swing at most anything he can reach does his overall production no favors. Not only does he feature a poor chase rate, he also swings at a high number of pitches in the zone, including some that aren’t in his best interest to attack. The overall result of this aggressive approach is it impacts his quality of contact, and his raw power might be a grade higher than what he exhibits in games as he simply does not barrel the ball as much as he probably should. After hitting .304 in High-A Hillsboro in 2025, he has come down to earth as he faces stiffer competition in Amarillo, where he has yet to be able to take advantage of the hyper-offensive conditions of the park and league. Luis still does not have a settled position defensively. He has the arm necessary to man third. He can and has played short and second. Some feel his best position may still b a move to the outfield. For now, it seems the Diamondbacks are more concerned about getting Luis’ bat going again, as he is getting plenty of looks at DH for now.
6. David Hagaman – RHP (BA 4, MLB 3, FG 10)
Hagaman has had loud stuff dating back at least to college, but he not only took it up a notch in 2025, he also paired it with a newfound ability to pump quality strikes, something the Arizona farm system can appreciate, given its many struggles in that area. His fastball averages roughly 94 mph with 18 inches of carry and comes at hitters from an elite level of extension of seven feet. His heater tops out in the 97-98 mph range, but evaluators say they wouldn’t be surprised if he eventually sits comfortably in the upper 90s as his arm strength and endurance increase. Hagaman’s curveball is a hard one, coming in at up to 86 mph, but he maintains consistent depth with it. His mid-80s changeup has late movement and looks a great deal like a hard sinker. He also throws a slider that flashes average. He attacks hitters and shows no fear of being in the zone. The 6-foot-4 righthander has a loose, stable delivery that allows him to get down the mound with ease. Hagaman did not throw more than five innings or 65 pitches in an outing in 2025, so he will need to show he can maintain both his caliber of stuff as well as the same quality and quantity of strikes over a full season. So far in 2026, it has been more of the same though. Only recently promoted to AA Amarillo, Hagaman dominated Hillsboro and will now need to start putting in the work necessary to get stretched out more as he is still a five and dive pitcher at this stage. Expect Hagaman to be assigned to Amarillo again next year, but to be on track for a mid-season promotion to Reno if he can get his arm stretched out enough before being placed on the doorstep to the Majors.
5. J.D. Dix – SS (BA 10, MLB 4, FG 1)
Dix was taken with the 35th pick in the 2024 draft and was subsequently convinced to forego his commitment to Wake Forest. Dix has the size, athleticism, hands, and footwork that can play anywhere on the dirt. Most evaluators feel he has plenty of arm and range to stick at shortstop long-term. However, given Arizona’s glut of infield prospects, Dix’s positional flexibility will only help him. Still not old enough to legally drink, Dix is just finally growing into his impressive 6’2” body. Dix filled out nicely over the course of the last year and it has resulted in Dix flying up the prospect rankings. Dix is a switch-hitter who swings more comfortably from the left side. Dix already demonstrates above average gap-to-gap power, leading many to see the potential for him to reach true plus gap-to-gap power as he finishes filling out and he continues to work with professional trainers and conditioning coaches. Dix is currently showing off all his tools in Hillsboro, where he has been playing second base. Diamondbacks fans are already familiar with having a slick-fielding, switch-hitting, power bat at second base. Should Dix not find a home at shortstop for some reason, he could continue that legacy. Enjoy a highlight from the eve of the last season’s trade deadline.
Helfrick was the surprise pick by Arizona with the 15th overall overall selection in the draft. Helfrick is a glove-first catcher out of James McCann’s alma mater, the University of Arkansas. Helfrick was a highly-regarded high school prospect in Northern California who elected to head to the competitive SEC rather than remain in California where there was also premium competition. After struggling as a freshman, he had a power-hitting breakout as a sophomore before then struggling with Team USA during that summer. He then made the necessary adjustments to hold his place on the squad as a junior, with a .283/.417/.562 line and slightly fewer strikeouts than the year before. Overt physicality, power, and steady catching defense (especially his framing) give Helfrick a floor of sorts as a quality back-up catcher who can control the running game. It is not uncommon for big league catchers to hit around .200 and little to be thought of it. That seems to be a likely outcome for Helfrick, who swings over the top of a lot of soft stuff in the bottom of the zone. However, with professional coaching and an opportunity to refine his craft full-time could result in Helfrick becoming a more dangerous sort of player. Helfrick possesses borderline light tower power which should allow him to crush quite a few high fastballs to his pull side and slug impressively, even though he will probably strike out 30% of the time in pro ball.
On defense, Helfrick’s size and strength help make him a quiet, subtle receiver around the edges of the zone, and he’s a skilled, mobile ball-blocker. He has an above-average arm that, unfortnately, currently plays down somewhat because his exchange mechanics take too long. This is a very coachable issue and should be easily remedied early in his professional development. Luke Stevenson went 35th overall in 2025 after striking out more often than Helfrick did as a sophomore, and Helfrick is a better defender, giving him extra padding for his potential floor.
3. Kayson Cunningham – SS (BA 3, MLB 2, FG 5)
Taken with Arizona’s first pick in last season’s draft, Kayson Cunningham represents yet another dynamic infielder with high upside and above average tools across the board save his arm, which is average. Cunningham had the distinction of being the starting shortstop for USA Baseball’s 18U National Team on a team stacked with impressive prep shortstop talent. A strong argument can be made that Cunningham was the best pure hitter to be found anywhere in his draft class, an early evaluation that seems to be holding up a year on. After tearing up Visalia for about half a season, Cunningham has taken his talents to Hillsboro, where he has settled in nicely. He likely finishes this season in A+ ball and will be an interesting decision for he next season’s roster assembly. He could repeat A+ for a bit to make sure he gets plenty f runway to finally take off. Or, if he continues to be essentially a league average hitter in A+ ball, he might get a bump up to AA Amarillo to see if his bat can be sparked awake by getting to face tougher competition. Thanks to a quick and efficient left-handed swing, Cunningham has explosive hands, quick enough to snatch fastballs at the top of the zone. Cunningham also exhibits great body control, allowing him to be adept at adjusting the posture of both his upper and lower body to move the barrel all over the place. Cunningham has very special feel for hitting and brings a surprising amount of power for his 5’10” size. Cunningham has all the tools necessary to remain at short, but his average arm profiles him better for second base (a problem to be sorted at a much later date). Cunningham also features very good speed, getting out of the box quickly and moving well in the field. While it is not currently a big part of his game, he profiles as a 20 steal threat.
2. Demetrio Crisantes – 2B (BA 1, MLB 1, FG 3)
At this point last season, I and a few others decided to aggressively rank Crisantes on the strength of his plate discipline and his batted ball numbers. All he has done since then is rake. He is now by and large considered Arizona’s top prospect. Crisantes is going to go as far as his bat will take him. He is an average fielder at second, but makes all the plays one would expect. He lacks any true standout tool in the field, but he does all the little things the right way, maximizing the results from his average fielding, arm, and speed. At the plate, Crisantes makes borderline elite contact on swings in the zone, which is a good thing as Crisantes loves to swing at strikes in the zone. Crisantes features a very simple, repeatable and direct swing that starts with a minor leg lift to as he begins his load. With a good understanding of the zone and an aggressive in-zone approach, Crisantes not only has an above average hit tool, but projected plus power. Injury derailed Crisantes’s development in 2025, limiting him to only 151 plate appearances. Returning from injury, Crisantes picked up right where he left off. Crisantes managed to remain above average at the plate after his promotion to AA Amarillo. His performance there incentivized the organization to promote him yet again, to AAA Reno. In Reno, Crisantes has finally hit his first major challenge. While his overall numbers are down since the promotion to Reno, there is still plenty to like. Crisantes has become more patient since his promotion. He isn’t getting the walks he used to, but he is also striking out far less. He has become better at offering at pitches inside the zone and has chased outside less frequently. With AAA being Crisantes’ third level of competition faced in 2026 alone, it is unsurprising that he finally found a level that will take a bit of an adjustment period. Assuming no team pries Crisantes away via trade, the Nogales, Arizona native will open his next campaign in AAA again. How long he remains in AAA will depend almost entirely on him. If he continues to refine his craft the way he has so far, he’ll be making things difficult for the decision makers by this time in the next full season.
1. Tommy Troy – OF/INF (BA NR, MLB NR, FG NR)
Listen, I get it. Most everyone has removed Tommy Troy from prospect rankings at this point. However, when crunching the numbers over the last few weeks, one thing jumped out at me. Tommy Troy does not yet have enough at-bats to lose his rookie eligibility – not yet. Given that Troy is only just now in Bridge Camp , getting himself ready for a rehabilitation stint in the minors, there is a very real possibility that the upcoming roster crunch results in Troy not seeing another Major League at-bat in the 2026 season. If that remains the case, then Tommy Troy will actually enter the next baseball season with his rookie eligibility intact. With that being the case, he’s still marginally a prospect in my book. With two more starts, Troy likely accrues enough at-bats to lose eligibility. However, with the roster crunch and his pre-injury struggles, I think, at this point, it is more likely than not that Tommy Troy heads back to Reno once he is deemed healthy enough to resume full baseball activity.
That said, Tommy Troy has passed the eye test and appears to be MLB-ready. Don’t let the 83 wRC+ fool you. Troy has looked comfortable at the plate and has kept the defense on their toes. Troy has wheels and he knows it. He uses that fact to draw defenses in with the threat of bunting to hit. But Troy also has decent pop in his bat – especially against fastballs, even elite ones. Troy’s reputation for being a fastball killer turns out to be well-earned. On the other hand, Troy is still struggling with elite spin on breaking pitches, especially hard sliders. It is an issue that MLB pitchers have exploited thus far. Then, just as it looked like Troy might be making the necessary adjustments, he fell injured – again.
Honorable mentions: Christian Mena, Yu-Min Lin, Dylan Ray, and Gavin Conticello
This list will no doubt change after the Arizona Fall League plays and Mike Hazen makes his offseason moves to restock the 26-man roster. I expect those moves and some graduations from and drops off to have this list looking very different come time for the March update.
TORONTO, ON - MAY 11: A general view of the outfield atmosphere is seen before an MLB game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays on May 11, 2026, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Mathew Tsang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Game four of four. Might as well make it a sweep, since it is just sitting there. Speaking of sitting there, I think I’m going to be doing that at a near by bar for today’s game. I feel like lunch out today.
Max, we could use a great start. Everyone else is giving us a great starts.
They still haven’t made a decision on starter Saturday. Could be Simeon Woods Richardson or Lazaro Estrada, or someone else. I would suggest doing some light throw, just in case it is you.
Spencer Arrighetti is to throw a bullpen tomorrow. I’d imagine a rehab start would follow.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 24: Jorge Mateo #2 of the Atlanta Braves warms up before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 24, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Following the loss of infielder Ben Williamson to a likely season ending hamstring strain, the Rays have signed INF Jorge Mateo to a major league deal. Mateo is expected to fill Williamson’s role in the right handed side of a second base platoon role, while also serving as the back up short stop. The move also allows rookie Carson Williams to return to Triple-A for every day playing time as he looks to sure up his control of the strike zone against off-speed pitches.
Mateo was released by the Atlanta Braves on August 9th, who signed with them as a free agent following five seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, after he struggled mightily while batting at Truist Part (43 wRC+ in 53 PA at home, 106 wRC+ in 84 PA away). That could just be an anomaly, however, as Mateo is being signed for his defense and speed, not his bat.
To make room on the roster, the Rays have designated RHP Trevor Martin off the 40-man roster, due to right handed relief being the greatest position of depth on the 40-man roster.
Martin made his major league debut this season and pitched 11.1 innings in relief, allowing eight runs (five earned) and four walks against seven strikeouts. In 27 games at the Triple-A level he held a 3.09 ERA and 3.91 FIP with a 25.0% K-rate and 11.2% BB-rate. A third round pick in the 2022 draft, the Rays converted him to starting pitching as a professional from a collegiate relief role, but he has been a relief prospect since the start of the 2025 season. FanGraphs recently rated him No. 40 in the Rays organization pre-2026 draft thanks to his climbing velocity and recent addition of a splitter. If the Rays are lucky, they just might be able to pass him through waivers and stash the big man back in Durham.
Here is the team’s press release:
The Tampa Bay Rays have signed infielder Jorge Mateo (HOR-hay muh-TAY-oh) to a major league contract and recalled right-handed pitcher Jesse Scholtens from Triple-A Durham. To make room on the active and 40-man rosters, the club optioned right-handed pitcher Michael Grove and infielder Carson Williams to Durham and designated right-handed pitcher Trevor Martin for assignment. Mateo will wear No. 9.
Mateo, 31, appeared in 65 games with the Atlanta Braves this season, batting .240/.285/.380 (31-for-129) with six doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI, eight walks, 29 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases on 11 attempts. The right-handed batter hit .316 (25-for-79) with eight extra-base hits and 11 RBI across his first 37 games through the end of May, a stretch he concluded by tallying RBI in each of his final four games to end the month, including consecutive games with a home run for the second time in his career from May 30-31 at Cincinnati. His average sprint speed of 30.3 feet per second leads all major league infielders and ranks third overall behind the Athletics Henry Bolte (30.6) and Texas’ Cam Cauley (30.5), according to Baseball Savant. Additionally, Mateo’s average arm strength of 88.3 mph is ninth fastest among major league shortstops.
Since the beginning of the 2022 season, the six-foot, 200-pound infielder’s 16 defensive runs saved are tied for 11th most among major league shortstops despite playing fewer innings at the position than each of the 10 players ranked ahead of him in that span. Mateo has batted .350 (21-for-60) in 18 career games at Tropicana Field, tallying eight doubles, one triple, five RBI, four walks, nine runs scored, and a .907 OPS. It marks the highest career batting average at the ballpark by any active player (minimum 50 at-bats).
The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native signed with the Braves on Jan. 20, was designated for assignment on Aug. 3, and was released on Aug. 9. He spent the previous five seasons (2021-25) with the Baltimore Orioles after the club acquired him from the San Diego Padres ahead of the 2021 trade deadline. In 2022, Mateo became the third player (fourth instance) in Orioles history to lead the American League in steals after swiping a career-high 35 stolen bases, joining Brian Roberts (2007) and Luis Aparicio (1963-64). He began his major league career by playing 22 games with the Padres in 2020.
In 555 career games spanning seven seasons (2020-26), Mateo has slashed .223/.268/.365 (319-for-1,432) with 77 doubles, 12 triples, 34 home runs, 132 RBI, 81 walks, 212 runs scored, and 116 stolen bases.
GETTING TO THE TOP: The Cubs are 37-16 since June 11, the best record of any team. With their loss last night, the Red Sox are 37-17. The Rays are 34-21; the Brewers, 33-22. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
COMING FROM BEHIND: Last night’s win was the Cubs’ 37th of the season after they trailed at some point, most by any team. The Diamondbacks have 36 comeback wins. The Cubs’ 37 wins have come in 50 different games in which they erased a deficit. They have won 10 in a row, 12 of 13 and 22 of 24, beginning on June 11, when they rallied to win at Colorado, starting their current surge. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
DURING THE DAY: The Cubs are only 8-11 in day games on the road this season, but they are 7-6 in days games on the road following night games. They are 9-2 on Thursday, their best record on any day of the week. They are 14-6 on Wednesday and 12-7 on Tuesday. They are 5-1 on the road on Thursday, also their best. They are 8-3 on Wednesday and 7-3 on Tuesday. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Shawon Dunston’s two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth completes a Cubs comeback from a 5-1 deficit and they defeat the Pirates 9-8 at Wrigley Field. It happened 40 years ago today, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 1986.
Lineups were not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for today’s lineups.
Kevin Gausman, RHP vs. Cade Cavalli, RHP
Kevin Gausman was solid in his first Cubs start last Friday in Kansas City.
He has not faced the Nats since 2024 and so only three of the current Nationals have faced him. CJ Abrams, who is having a really good year, is the only Nat who has hit him at all — 4-for-6. So, stop Abrams and Gausman can probably handle the rest of the Nats lineup.
With Foster Griffin traded, Cade Cavalli takes over as the Nats’ best starter. He’s had a solid year and has allowed three or fewer runs in all of his last 11 starts.
He was the Nats’ Opening Day starter against the Cubs and allowed three runs in 3.2 innings on a chilly, windy day at Wrigley Field March 26, which probably has little or no predictive value for today’s game.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
DYERSVILLE, IA - AUGUST 11: A general view of MLB Field at Field of Dreams during the MiLB Field of Dreams game between the St. Paul Saints and the Iowa Cubs on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 in Dyersville, Iowa. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tonight, Major League Baseball returns to Dyersville, Iowa, for the Field of Dreams Game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins. It’s fantastic that the event has returned, as the 1989 film is one of my favorites and has inspired memories and reflections of my own.
Childhood memories
One summer day in the early 2000s, my oldest brother had the impulse to build a baseball field. So, he tied the closest thing we had to a steel drag mat to our dad’s ancient Subaru Leone (I think that was the car) from the 80s and drove it around the empty acre of dirt next to the house.
While he was in the car, my job as the youngest brother was to wander the field and pick up as many large rocks as I could carry in my shirt and use them to weigh down a line of boards flat on the ground that served as our outfield fence. We then created a backstop by propping up a chain-link fence on three poles, and tried to compile a mound of dirt as best we could to pitch from.
Despite a total lack of measuring that left us with a tiny right field—and an abundance of weeds, rocks, Chico bushes, and ankle-twisting rodent tunnels—it was our own Field of Dreams.
It wasn’t heaven, but it was perfect.
I have so many memories of taking batting practice out there with my brothers and the slog of tracking down every ball we hit, only to inevitably lose one somehow (legend says there are still baseballs out there to this day). It also served as our annual home run derby venue, where we obliterated the surplus of rotten apples that fell off our trees. I also spent many years using an old wooden shovel handle to smack rocks I tossed up to myself to work on my hand-eye coordination while my dog Misty chased them.
That field helped forge my love of the game, and inspired so many pursuits in baseball, including writing for Purple Row.
Baseball marks the time
I recently watched Field of Dreams on a whim in preparation for the game, and one of the moments that always stands out is the monologue by James Earl Jones’s character, Terrance Mann.
“The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and could be again.”
Baseball has always been a significant part of my life. My dad loved the game and passed that on to my three brothers and me. The oldest and I became the fanatics and played the game, while the other two became casual enjoyers of the sport.
The sport is always a constant through the good times and the bad. When my dad first learned of his cancer diagnosis in 2024, Rockies baseball helped him endure that time. After he passed, baseball has continued to serve as a healing salve for me.
To me, the essence of the speech in the movie is that baseball is about hope and believing that things can be better than they were yesterday. It stands as a constant testament to the inherent childlike simplicity of throwing, hitting, and catching a ball. Baseball is what dreams are made of.
It’s a game that can heal people, giving them a sense of community and the courage to believe. The best adage in sports is that there is “always next year.” Seems like every year, no matter how foolish it may be, I enter a Rockies season with a decent amount of optimism that things could be better. I see others who share that same sentiment time and time again. Whether or not that is true depends on your perception, but 2026 has shown that things can still be bad, yet much better than the previous year.
If you build it
So as the Phillies and Twins step onto that cornfield diamond in Iowa tonight, I won’t just be watching a game between two major league teams. I’ll be thinking of a dusty acre, an old Subaru Leone, a wooden shovel handle, and a father who shared his love of the game. The Rockies—and baseball itself—might break our hearts now and then, but every pitch brings a chance to remember where we came from and believe in what comes next. That’s the magic of the game. It marks our time, keeps our memories alive, and always promises that tomorrow could be better.
Whether it’s played in a pristine, corn-rimmed stadium in Dyersville or on a rocky patch of dirt next to the house, baseball has a way of holding up a mirror to our lives. Tonight’s Field of Dreams game is a reminder of why we fall in love with this sport in the first place. For baseball fans—and for anyone who has ever built a field in their own backyard—sometimes the score matters a lot less than the sanctuary the game provides. There’s always next year, always next season, and always another dream waiting out in the corn.
The Cincinnati Reds have lost ace Hunter Greene not only for the rest of the 2026 season, but likely all of 2027 as well.
Greene underwent his second Tommy John surgery on Wednesday, Aug. 13, after doctors discovered the damage to his right elbow was too extensive for them to opt for a less-invasive internal brace procedure that could have allowed him to return to action for the second half of next season.
The expected recovery time for the full elbow reconstruction is 12-18 months, which would probably mean he wouldn't return to the mound until the start of the 2028 season.
Greene, 27, is one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in baseball, but injuries have been a problem for him throughout his major league career.
He has never made more than 26 starts or pitched more than 150⅓ innings in any of his five seasons with the Reds. He hit both of those career highs in 2024, when he went 9-5 with 169 strikeouts and a 2.75 ERA. That success earned him his only All-Star berth and an eighth-place finish in the NL Cy Young balloting.
Greene was shut down during spring training and had surgery to remove bone chips in his pitching elbow.
He allowed eight runs in 3⅓ innings when he made his season debut in June, followed by a fantastic second start against the Chicago Cubs − tossing seven scoreless innings and struck out 12. However, the elbow soreness soon returned and the Reds put him back on the injured list at the end of the month with a 2-2 record and 6.83 ERA.
Hunter Greene contract
Greene signed a six-year, $53 million extension with the Reds in 2023. Scheduled for unrestricted free agency after the 2029 season, Cincinnati has a $21 million team option for 2029 with a $2 million buyout.
2026: $8.3 million
2027: $15.3 million
2028: $16.3 million
2029: $21 million (club option, $2 million buyout)
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene will be out the rest of this season and possibly 2027 after undergoing Tommy John surgery Thursday to repair a ligament in his right elbow.
The team had announced Friday that Greene would require surgery. He also had Tommy John surgery in 2019 when he was in the minor leagues. The Cincinnati Enquirer first reported his latest surgery.
Greene is 2-2 with a 6.83 ERA in 27 2/3 innings over five starts. Greene, whose last appearance was July 31, told the team’s medical staff he experienced soreness during his side session Aug. 4.
Greene began the season on the 60-day injured list following surgery in March to remove bone chips from his right elbow.
In April 2023, Greene signed a six-year, $53 million contract extension with a $21 million club option in 2029.
Greene had two separate stints on the IL last season with a right groin injury limiting him to 19 starts. In 2024, he missed six weeks with right elbow soreness. In 2023, there were two stints on the IL with hip pain.
Despite some trade interest in Greene this summer, the Reds chose to retain him, giving them a formidable one-two punch at the top of the rotation with All-Star right-hander Chase Burns.
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 1988: Brian Holton and Fernando Valenzuela, both pitchers for the Los Angeles Dodgers, share a quiet moment in the victorious Dodgers Clubhouse during the World Series against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California in October of 1988. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images) | Focus on Sport via Getty Images
The Dodgers haven’t had a three-inning save yet in 2026, and as a host of the Three-Inning Save podcast I was starting to wonder whether this team actually has the juice to repeat as champions, again. Everything was setting up perfectly for that shortcoming to be rectified on Wednesday night.
Landon Knack was called up earlier in the day, a clear sign this was a reset day for the bullpen, like we’ve seen from Charlie Barnes and Cole Irvin in just the last month and a half. Eric Lauer pitched a splendid six innings and threw 107 pitches, already his season high, and the Dodgers were up 4-2. This was the perfect opportunity to go for a three-inning save.
But the Dodgers left Lauer in the game, to face the lefty-hitting Josh Rojas to open the seventh. He struck out on five pitches, giving Lauer a season-high 6 1/3 innings but that ensured there would not be a three-inning save.
Knack still came in to fulfill his clear role, to give the bullpen a night off. He allowed a pair of singles in the seventh inning but was otherwise fine, and pitched the final 2 2/3 innings for an actual save, since he entered with a lead of three or fewer runs. It was by all definitions a perfectly effective outing, and will get Knack several handshakes and pats on the back as he’s optioned to Triple-A on Thursday in favor of another fresh arm for the bullpen.
Since saves became official in 1969, the Dodgers have 19 saves of exactly eight outs. Before Knack on Wednesday, the last such game was 39 years ago.
On June 8, 1987, Brian Holton relieved Orel Hershiser with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh inning against the Braves in Atlanta, with a 6-1 lead. Holton struck out Glenn Hubbard then induced an inning-ending groundout by future Hall of Famer Ted Simmons to extinguish the threat. Because the tying run was on deck when Holton entered, this was a save situation.
Holton stranded a single in a scoreless eighth inning, then allowed a two-run home run to Andres Thomas in the ninth inning before getting the final three outs for the first save of his career.
“Brian had a 12-to-6 curveball that was an optical illusion. That was a huge major league tool for him,” Hershiser said in the ninth inning of the SportsNet LA call of Wednesday’s game. In the LA Times game story, McManis described the pitch that struck out Holton as a “slow curve.“
Mike Marshall was the very definition of a multi-inning reliever, and won a Cy Young Award in 1974 with the Dodgers will setting records that likely won’t ever be broken, with 106 appearances and 208 1/3 innings. Marshall had an eight-out save that season, on May 18 in St. Louis, but what I love about his season is that he had saves of every number of outs from one to 12 that season.
oCHICAGO, IL - JUNE 20: Lazaro Estrada #35 celebrates during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday, June 20, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by George Gaza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
We have an afternoon game today, 3:00 Eastern. The Jays now have a 15.6% chance of making the playoffs, which is almost double than what it was a couple of weeks ago. The next couple of weeks well tell us a lot. After today’s game, they play six games (home and road) against the Yankees and three game in Tampa against the Rays.
There isn’t all that much for Jays’ news.
Brendon Little is off on Paternity Leave, on his birthday yet.
Lazaro Estrada is back. I think he’s been optioned five times this year, which is the limit. But I don’t know if it works the same when you are up for a Paternity Leave. And I’m not sure that the Jays would be worried about having to put him on waivers.
And there is this.
John Schneider has cranked up the in-stadium music through the speakers in the #BlueJays’ dugout, anything to bring more energy:
“It’s like the crowd. You can already hear it, but if you can *really* hear it, that goes under the category of ‘full send’. Like, let’s fucking go.”
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 07: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees looks on before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium on August 7, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cynicism is very much in this summer. If it were an ice cream flavor it would be flying off the shelves in the midst of the late-summer humidity—which has only exacerbated everybody’s foul moods. Every lighthearted mention of something cool or good that took place in the world tends to be habitually followed up with a grouchy “yeah, but have you heard…?”
For instance, hey, the Yankees keep winning more often than they lose despite not having many of their most impactful players. Yeah, but did you see that the Rays have won nine straight games? Yeah, but did you see Will Warren’s dud of a start? That guy can’t be relied upon! Yeah, but did you know we’re out of milk? The HORROR!
But the fact remains: the Yankees remain good despite it all. They even added another come-from-behind victory to their stash last night, overtaking the Mariners ahead of the final bend and switching on the turbo thrusters in a 10-5 series-clinching triumph. And what’s more, the Red Sox are crashing down to earth, giving the Bombers additional breathing room in the top Wild Card spot as they try to burn some sage or do whatever it takes to stop the white-hot Rays.
Never lacking for starting pitching, the Yankees get the luxury of turning to Max Fried in the finale as they aim for a sweep of Seattle. Fried was a bit bumpy in the first two innings of his previous start, in which he faced his former friends in Atlanta for the first time. But after allowing a leadoff single in the third, he didn’t allow a single baserunner the rest of the way, twirling a scoreless 6.1-inning performance which proved instrumental in allowing the Bombers to complete an invigorating rally later in the evening. (As an aside: I was there for that game, and you can see me on the broadcast amongst a sea of fired-up fanatics in the right field seats after Ben Rice’s game-tying hit.)
The Mariners also never lack for starting pitching—though several of their top-flight arms have underachieved this year. Not so with Logan Gilbert, who remains among the most consistent right-handed starters in MLB. Gilbert did the best he could to stifle those incendiary Rays last time up, notching a quality start with two runs over 6.2 innings (Tampa won anyway). His previous time out he completed seven full innings against a Minnesota team that can really hit, permitting three runs on five hits. The M’s are in a massive funk, but if New York completes the sweep, the 29-year old is not likely to be the main reason why.
Trent Grisham won last night’s game belt in the clubhouse, and for good reason. New York’s leadoff man stepped up with a three-hit, two-homer, 4-RBI night which helped the Yankees reach double-figures in the run column for the first time since a 12-4 win on July 9th over none other than Tampa. Naturally, he’s back in that leadoff spot this afternoon ahead of Ben Rice and Spencer Jones, who doubled twice out of the three-hole last night. Luis Garcia Jr. bats cleanup, then George Lombard Jr. hits fifth, the highest up in the order he’s gone so far. Jazz Chisholm Jr. hits sixth ahead of José Caballero who will play right field—he, Ryan McMahon and Ali Sánchez bring up the rear.
With Fried on the mound, the Mariners will give lefty-hitting infielder Cole Young the day off. Young has been among the M’s most reliable starters, but he will sit along with rookie shortstop Colt Emerson (a more understandable decision there; Emerson has not had the same caliber of start as his 21-year old shortstop counterpart in the opposite dugout). Leo Rivas and Weston Wilson, two guys hitting below the Mendoza Line, draw in. No complaints here.
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium — The Bronx, NY
First pitch: 1:35 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, Mariners.TV
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY), Seattle Sports 710 AM (SEA)
PHOENIX — These skids have happened virtually every year he has managed the Los Angeles Dodgers and although Dave Roberts should be numb to it by now, knowing they’ll ultimately wind up on the other side, it doesn’t make the pain any less tolerable.
“I hate it," he tells USA TODAY Sports, “I absolutely hate it. I just wish it didn’t happen at all, but it always does."
The Dodgers, who just came off a seven-game losing streak, dropping 15 of 24 games and were 42-42 over six weeks, hope to be coming out of their funk at the right time.
Now, they meet again for the battle for the No. 1 seed, with the Dodgers entering Wednesday night two games behind the Brewers, who also had the best record in MLB last year.
Roberts implored his team to wake up Monday before they played the Kansas City Royals, reminding them that if they don’t finish with the top two records in the National League, they’ll be without a first-round bye and forced to play at least two extra postseason games.
It happened last year, too, but had no ill effect.
The Dodgers, who lost seven consecutive games last July and went through a 12-24 stretch, were forced to play the Cincinnati Reds in the wild-card round. Los Angeles swept Cincinnati without breaking a sweat then breezed past the Philadelphia Phillies in four games in the NLDS before sweeping the Brewers. Then, the Dodgers outlasted the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games for the World Series title.
“I think the thing is that there’s no correlation," Roberts said. “That’s why a lot of people go, 'Oh, you haven’t played well going in the postseason. Does that mean you’re going to play bad?’ No. 'If you play well going into the playoffs, does that mean you’re going to win the World Series?’ Clearly not.
“There’s no one way. That’s what’s great about your game. We had the bye and won. We’ve had the bye and lost. We played the wild-card game and won the World Series. So, when hear people debating that, that’s good for the game."
The Dodgers had an 8 ½-game lead in August 2024, which was trimmed to two games, but won the division by five. They earned the first-round bye, got past the San Diego Padres in the NLDS, the New York Mets in the NLCS and knocked off the Yankees in five games for their first World Series title in a full season since 1988.
Then again, there was a time when the Dodgers wondered if the first-round byes were a detriment in the the expanded wild-card format. They had byes in 2022 and 2023 and were knocked out immediately in the NLDS, to the Padres in 2022 before getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023.
And, there was the 2017 season when they had a 1-16 meltdown from Aug. 26-Sept. 20, but woke up just in time before the playoffs, and take the Houston Astros to the seventh game of the World Series.
“We were zeroing in on the playoffs," Roberts said. “We were playing for the best record and I was like, 'I don’t think we’re going to make it.'"
Championships the past two seasons give Roberts plenty of confidence that this year will be no different no matter how they fare down the stretch.
“It felt like we would never win another game," Roberts said. “Well, we did win another game. And we won another game ending this seven-game streak, too.
“I do think we need to play with some more urgency, but once we do that, we’re going to just fine."
OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 22: Jake Schaffner #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels hits a single during the third inning against the Oklahoma Sooners in Game 3 of the NCAA College World Series baseball finals at Charles Schwab Field on June 22, 2026 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are about two months out from the North Carolina Tar Heels’ heartbreaking loss in the finals at the College World Series. In the weeks since, the 2026 MLB Draft was also held, and a number of UNC players have since begun their professional careers. With some time having passed from that, let’s take a look in on how the Diamond Heels are now fitting into their new homes.
In total, six Tar Heels were selected in the 2026 MLB Draft, all six of them opted to sign and begin their minor league careers.
The first two Heels off the board were both selected by the Boston Red Sox. Shortstop Jake Schaffner went 20th overall and came to terms on a $2 million signing bonus. His first taste of pro ball has come with the High Single-A Greenville Drive in the South Atlantic League, where he’s put up a .797 OPS in six games through Monday. Meanwhile, Boston then took Super Regional hero Owen Hull 67th overall and inked him to a $1.2 million bonus. Hull is also in Greenville and has also played in six games, putting up a 1.014 OPS. He’s shown a good eye, drawing five walks in six games, continuing on one of his calling cards from college. More notably, they both rank among the Red Sox top ten prospects according to one outlet that covers that aspect.
The third round saw two Tar Heels picked, the first of which was pitcher Jason DeCaro, who went 80th to the Pirates, signing with them for $1,297,500. As teams sometimes tend to do with pitchers, they’ve taken it slowly with DeCaro, as he hasn’t appeared in a minor league game yet. Fellow UNC rotation member Ryan Lynch went a little bit later to the Padres at the 97th pick, and he also has not taken the mound in a live game yet.
A couple rounds later, catcher Macon Winslow was selected by the Phillies and came to terms with them. In six games so far, he has just three hits, but one of them was a home run and he’s also shown a pretty good eye, drawing three walks. That has his OPS sitting at .754 in that small sample size.
The final UNC player picked this year was reliever Matthew Matthijs, who went in one of the last rounds of the draft, the 17th at 520th overall, going to the Mariners. Like the other pitchers on the list, he hasn’t appeared in a real game as of yet.
Among the undrafted free agents, pitcher Joe Charles has struggled in the Mets’ system so far, while catcher Colin Hynek didn’t record a hit in his first two games with a Cubs’ affiliate.
Other than the fact that all six Tar Heels ended up signing with their teams, there wasn’t a lot substantial to talk about just yet. We’ll be sure to check in on this year’s drafted Tar Heels towards the end of the season as they have a little more time to play in their various organizations. Best of luck to those six, and any other former UNC players around the minor leagues over the rest of the 2026 MiLB season.
