Category: MLB

The minor-league season has officially come to an end, a season in which we saw a bit of a shift from the usual trend of Yankees’ minor league seasons.

We didn’t see too many midseason departures due to a weird deadline, we didn’t see a plethora of starting pitchers excel and we saw, for once, a group of hitting prospects that actually showed promise. Remember, entering this year, the No. 4 hitting prospect in the organization behind George Lombard Jr., Dax Kilby, and Spencer Jones was… who, exactly?

Scott will have you covered in the coming days with a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders-intensive recap, but here’s the final evaluation of the rest of the full-season affiliates in a player-specific format, where I highlight some of the players to watch who defined the seasons at their respective levels.

Double-A Somerset Patriots

Record: 74-64

Run differential: +45

Hitters

OF Jace Avina: The hitter with the best name brand here, Avina had a solid season all around in his first season in Double-A, but warts still remain. Acquired in the Jake Bauers trade after 2023 (who would’ve thought he’d turn into that in Milwaukee), Avina was remarkably consistent all year through late July, even winning Eastern League Player of the Month after posting a 1.106 OPS in May.

However, as has been his bugaboo at times in his career, he ended the season in a slump, hitting just .229 with a 90 wRC+ in his final 41 games. It might’ve been the result of a midseason approach change, as he cut down on strikeouts at the expense of power production. When he was raking during the early summer, he was striking out nearly 30 percent of the time. He should get to Triple-A at some point next year, but I’m not convinced he’s passed all the tests to get there yet.

1B/3B Coby Morales: Somerset’s MVP in 2026, the corner infielder was a 20/20 bat this year at the level, showing a side of him that we hadn’t quite seen. The 2023 18th-round pick out of Washington started his professional career with extremely little pop, but has slowly tapped into his raw power over the course of his career. Now finishing his age-24 season, Morales was reliable all season long in Somerset.

He finished slashing .282/.372/.479 with a 129 wRC+ while splitting time at first and third base. I’m not entirely sure of his big league projectability, but this is a guy who will be in Scranton next year. With 156 total games of Double-A experience, it’s time to see if he can sink or swim.

OF DJ Gladney: There were a few quiet minor-league free agent signings who fared pretty well for the Yankees this year. Gladney is one of them, posting a 113 wRC+ in Double-A after spending six years in the White Sox organization. We’ll see if he re-ups on another minor league deal or heads elsewhere.

1B/LF Josh Moylan: Every draft, the Yankees pick one guy who displayed big-time power in college and see if it translates. It doesn’t usually work, and it seemed like Moylan would be the latest example of the archetype failing in the pros… but maybe there’s something there. After struggling to hit much of anything through 2025, the 24-year-old finally got on a heater down in High-A before a late June promotion. After being called up, he posted a 118 wRC+ in 68 games in his first taste of Double-A. His 29 home runs were the most in the farm this year. Keep an eye on him.

C Manuel Palencia: Through late June, the closest catching prospect to the majors in the system was one of the worst hitters in the entire system, but he suddenly found something when the calendar flipped to August. After hitting one singular homer in his entire pro career through June 30th, he had six in July. In his final 150 plate appearances, he slashed .319/.351/.521. I’d have him repeat the level to see if those two months were a fluke or a sign of things to come.

Garrett Martin, Tyler Hardman, Marco Luciano: A grab bag of guys you’ll hear about from Scott in his Scranton roundup. These three guys were part of a historic start to the season for the Patriots, combining for 44 home runs in 550 plate appearances. Hardman hit a wall in Triple-A, the erstwhile Giants prospect Luciano did incredibly well and should push for a 40-man spot this offseason, and Martin suffered a season-ending injury in July. It’s a real shame; he was on pace to go well past 30/30 this season.

Starting Pitchers

Ben Hess: Just a really disappointing season from the former first-round pick. He had a 4.45 ERA in 56.2 innings, struggling with a high walk rate despite having stretches of brief brilliance with his enticing stuff. The injuries were rough, costing him a month early in the year and leaving him with a summer of building back up. Just a few weeks after finally getting back to full strength, he was put on the 60-day injured list. Next year will be big for him.

Xavier Rivas: This was Somerset’s best pitcher all season. In 81.1 innings, the former 16th-round pick pitched to a 3.65 ERA with a 22.0 K-BB%, boasting one of the largest strikeout rates of any Double-A pitcher by leaning heavily on his filthy secondaries. He hit a major wall in Triple-A and will have to fine-tune some things to avoid being the next Edgar Barclay with his low-90s fastball, but it was a step forward for a guy who has a case to be the org’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Rory Fox: If it’s not Rivas, it might be Fox. The Notre Dame product had a really strong debut season, tossing 130 total innings across two levels. What might be most impressive? After being so-so in Hudson Valley, he was aggressively pushed to Somerset in late July and excelled, pitching to a 3.97 ERA in eight starts across 47.2 innings. This guy eats innings like a bowl of cereal in the morning.

Cade Smith: Not related to the Guardians’ closer, Smith had some prospect stock entering the season, but is likely off everyone’s boards after struggling to a 5.27 ERA in 124.2 innings. The 24-year-old former sixth-round pick will repeat the level in 2026 looking to find the stuff that had him jump up prospect lists in A-ball a few years ago.

Relievers

Kelly Austin: A former Astros prospect acquired last July, Austin was Somerset’s closer in 2025, but had to repeat the level this year. I thought he might be able to break through into Scranton this year, but he battled some early struggles to make his season numbers more palatable towards the end, as the 25-year-old finished with a 3.61 ERA in 57 innings.

Hayden Merda: He earned a late-season promotion to Scranton for his exceptional work down here this season. When he was drafted, he sat 91-92. Now, two years after Tommy John surgery? How about 96-98? Command is still a bit of an issue, but he struck out 67 in 41.2 effective innings at this level this season.

Tony Rossi: The Yankees love to play with overage undrafted free agents with outlier traits in the bullpen. Rossi is quite old for a guy who made his pro debut last summer, but the 26-year-old has been exceptional at keeping the ball in the ballpark (3 HR allowed in 94 career innings) and racking up strikeouts. He had a 27.0 K-BB% in the minors this year while not allowing many homers and a .171 BAA. That’s not bad.

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades

Record: 65-65

Run differential: +4

Hitters

INF Core Jackson: It was a strong debut season for Jackson, who battled a few minor ailments (three different injured list stints) to have one of the more productive all-around seasons in the system, slashing .262/.360/.459 with 41 stolen bases in 101 games across two levels, being promoted in early August to Somerset. He spent much of the season at shortstop, but should settle at second or third base long term. The former fifth-round pick is in a good spot to be a featured face in Somerset in his age-23 season next year.

INF Roderick Arias: Remember me? The former uber-prospect revived his stock after a miserable two years in Tampa and a dreadful first two months in Hudson Valley, with an exceptional finish to the season, slashing .305/.377/.521 with a 133 wRC+ in his final 83 games across two levels. He’s still extremely athletically gifted and just turned 22 years old. He popped some big exit velocities and displayed tremendous arm strength, splitting time at shortstop and third base this year. He has a toolkit; let’s keep an eye on him next year.

C Eric Genther: Is this the new best catching prospect in the system? Hard to say. Genther, a former outfielder from Rhode Island, converted to catcher after signing as an undrafted free agent last summer and spent this season as a work in progress on both sides. He bounced back from a putrid start (0 HR in first 40 games) to ultimately finish as the Renegades’ best hitter, and should get to go to Somerset next year. Now, he is an extreme work in progress behind the plate, allowing a truly baffling number of stolen bases (196 in 65 starts).

OF Wilson Rodriguez: You don’t hear of many players coming from Puerto Rico anymore because of how their pipeline has changed over the years, but Rodriguez is the organization’s most notable Puerto Rican as a former 17th-round pick. He was a pretty niche prospect for his entire career, but got hot in June (.319/.396/.615) to put himself on the map. He unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury in late July, but having just turned 22, there’s time for him to become someone.

C David McCann: Another former undrafted free agent, McCann split time across three different levels this year, but never stopped displaying his raw power. The 22-year-old from Virginia Tech slugged .544 in the first 68 games of his pro career and also saw time at first base this season.

INF Jackson Lovich: He’s a fun prospect. A six-game cameo in Tampa last year got a lot of people excited about the Missouri alum’s potential, but the former 16th-round pick looked like one for much of the season, with big contact issues delaying a seemingly overdue promotion to this level. After he got to Hudson Valley? He stepped up his game, reining in those whiff issues and rediscovering his unique power-speed combo. He finished with 24 home runs and 41 stolen bases, the first Yankee to reach those numbers in 32 years.

Starting Pitchers

Bryce Cunningham: For much of this season, a guy who’s been hyped as one of the organization’s best pitching prospects looked pretty tough. He was able to routinely go deep into games, but he struggled with command and missing bats, posting a single-digit K-BB% all season long. Due to the roster churn and promotions, he got a late promotion to Somerset and actually finished really strong, posting three consecutive starts of at least six innings with 21 total strikeouts to zero walks. It was also nice to see him build up to 105 innings after his injuries last year.

Allen Facundo: The stuff is absolutely there for Facundo to be in the big leagues one day; it’s just not going to be as a starter. The Yankees finally got him out of Tampa in April and he showed he can stay healthy, but he wasn’t able to show he can consistently throw strikes. The 24-year-old walked 71 batters in 99 innings in Hudson Valley, but also struck out 123. He should probably be put in the bullpen next year and sent to Somerset to expedite his high-level stuff.

Luis Serna: Entering this season, you could lump Serna in a group with Henry Lalane as damaged goods after years of injuries, but the 22-year-old found an unlikely revival in 2026, just by finally being able to stay healthy. He blew past his prior career high of 69.1 innings to toss 118.2 and set the Hudson Valley single-season strikeout record at 140, while reasonably managing his walks. The ERA was still pretty average at 4.32 in 23 starts, but he’s back on the prospect radar after vanishing following a brilliant 2021 and 2022.

Relievers

Andrew Landry: 45.1 IP, 3.18 ERA, 3.18 FIP, 1.28 WHIP, 16.3 K-BB%
Jack Sokol: 41.2 IP, 3.67 ERA, 4.44 FIP, 1.49 WHIP, 10.5 K-BB%
Hansel Rincon: 44 IP, 3.48 ERA, 3.78 FIP, 1.32 WHIP, 19.0 K-BB%
Brandon Decker: 51 IP, 2.82 ERA, 3.84 FIP, 1.24 WHIP, 16.1 K-BB%
Thomas Balboni Jr.: 35 IP, 3.86 ERA, 4.36 FIP, 1.14 WHIP, 25.4 K-BB%

Single-A Tampa Tarpons

Record: 75-48

Run differential: +137

Hitters

INF Dax Kilby: It was a lost season for Kilby, who missed several months due to recurring hamstring issues. This was a guy who had skyrocketed into the Top 100 lists entering the season, but only managed 154 plate appearances due to an exceptionally low start. The only two things I really got out of his season? He’s absolutely not a shortstop down the road (second base, third base, or center field seem more likely), and he has one of the best eyes of any 19-year-old I’ve ever seen. He had a 25.3-percent walk rate this season. The Arizona Fall League awaits.

OF Yostin Pena: I will try to not be a prisoner of the moment, but this might be the best prospect in the system. A 6-foot-4 athletic freak from the D.R., Pena is just 18 years old and hit historically well in the DSL, becoming the first Yankee in nine years to skip the GCL/FCL and go straight to full-season ball, where he barely slowed down. He finished the season hitting over .350 with truly alien exit velocities for a player his age, strong defense in center field (with a cannon for an arm), and plus-plus speed. This is the most tool-heavy guy in the entire system and I am super excited about 2027 for him.

INF Luis Escudero: Who had the best overall numbers for this elite Tampa offense? It was actually Luis Escudero, who slashed .288/.455/.556 in 202 plate appearances after spending the spring at the complex. The 20-year-old packs a lot of pop in a small, 5-foot-8 frame, and somehow managed to have an even better eye than Kilby this year. There wasn’t enough sample to have him go to High-A to start next season, but he’ll be there soon if he continues to produce.

UTL Luis Puello: Do you miss Jesus Rodriguez in the system? Here’s your new favorite prospect. Puello is basically a baby Rodriguez, already having experience at catcher, first base, left field, and right field. I’m not sure what his long-term position is, but if any organization can get this guy catching in order, it’s this one. His bat also looks great, smacking 14 home runs in 73 games with some solid game power.

OF Brando Mayea: In the most recent edition of “former multi-million prospect shows life,” Mayea looked really bad to start the season, but found something over the course of the regular season. I’m going to need to see a lot more to be truly convinced the 20-year-old is on the right path, but he hit .298 across his final 47 games. Now if he could only find the power…

2026 Draftees Grab Bag: Way too little sample for much on any of these guys. Here’s a sampler:

• Tyce Armstrong, the guy who once hit three grand slams in a game, carried that Big 12 power into Single-A, finishing the season on an absolute heater.
• Anthony Potestio, the 11th-round pick, is getting a lot of buzz for how well he handled Single-A pitching as someone who didn’t play in the SEC or Big 12. In 19 games, he slashed .333/.513/.684.
• Paul Gutierrez-Contreras II has been the most impressive in terms of exit velocities. He’s pumped out a handful of batted balls over 105 mph already.

Starting Pitchers

Tyler Boudreau: A 2025 undrafted free agent, Boudreau came out of nowhere to be one of the most productive starting pitchers in the system. In 103 innings, he posted a 3.41 ERA with a 17.3 K-BB% and even struck out six in 3.1 shutout innings in a brief Somerset cameo. This is a guy who will have an opportunity to get himself on the map in Hudson Valley next year.

Justin West: Mr. Consistency. West started the season with some growing pains, but ended it as the most effective starter in the system. The 22-year-old finished the season by pitching to a 2.23 ERA across his final 10 starts, averaging six full innings per start. He just got better and better over the course of the season.

The Injured Bunch: Oh boy. Mac Heuer suffered a season-ending injury in July. Thatcher Hurd started the season recovering from Tommy John surgery, made eight solid starts, and finished the year injured. Brennan Stuprich spent several months on the injured list. J.T. Etheridge was also only limited to 13 starts, but he finished the season extremely strong and will be a sneaky pitcher to watch in the AFL next month.

Bullpen

Matthew Tippie: 47 IP, 2.87 ERA, 4.03 FIP, 1.13 WHIP, 19.3 K-BB%
Jose Ledesma: 38.2 IP, 3.49 ERA, 3.77 FIP, 1.32 WHIP, 12.6 K-BB%
Jose M. Rodriguez: 43.2 IP, 2.47 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 1.12 WHIP, 19.6 K-BB%
Parker Seay: 31.1 IP, 3.73 ERA, 4.22 FIP, 1.76 WHIP, 14.8 K-BB%

Detroit Tigers (75-85) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (81-79)

Time/Place: 1:10 p.m., Comerica Park
SB Nation Site:Bucs Dugout
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Juston Verlander (0-1, 12.27 ) vs. RHP Kirby Yates (2-5, 3.32 ERA)

Player	G	IP	K%	BB%	GB%	FIP	fWAR
Verlander	1	3.2	5.3	10.5	18.8	7.73	-0.1
Yates	45	40.2	27.9	9.9	32.7	3.25	0.5

161/162.

📺 @SNPittsburgh
📻 @KDKARadiopic.twitter.com/ha8qrJx4o9

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 26, 2026

Must-see JV, for the last time 🐐

⚾️ 1:10 PM ET
📺 @WatchDSN
📻 @971theticketxyt
🏟️ Comerica Park pic.twitter.com/tE4uI2XzYv

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 26, 2026

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Detroit Tigers, September 26, 2026, 1:10 p.m. ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates are the answer to a unique baseball trivia question following today’s game against the Detroit Tigers.

The Pirates will be the final team legendary pitcher Justin Verlander faces in his epic 21-year career that will almost certainly end with enshrinement into the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown once he is eligible.

Verlander began his career as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2004 MLB draft by the Detroit Tigers. He went on to make his MLB debut the following year, which led to an impressive 13-year run with the franchise. During that time, the Tigers qualified for the playoffs five times and the World Series twice, in 2006 and 2012.

With the Tigers exiting their contending window, Verlander was traded to the Houston Astros, who were poised to go on a dynastic run that saw them win the World Series in 2017 and 2022. After making appearances in the Fall Classic in 2019 and 2021, once he turned 40 years old, Verlander was on a quest to win 300 games, but he ultimately fell short of that goal.

Throughout his career, Verlander has a WAR of 82.3, with 266 wins to his name. But it’s up to the Pirates to ensure he doesn’t get No. 267.

Location: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI

Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh

BD community, this is your gameday thread for today’s game against the Detroit Tigers. Chime off in the comments section below.

The Nats are playing an early game in an attempt to try and avoid the bad weather. This game got pushed from 3 PM to 12:35. With just two games to go, we are really in the homestretch here. Hopefully the Nats can finish strong this weekend.

Blake Butera is making a couple changes to his lineup. Abimelec Ortiz enters the fray as the DH. Yohandy Morales will also be in the lineup as the first baseman. Nasim Nunez is at short which pushes CJ Abrams to second base. This will be a Nationals debut for Connelly Early, who is returning from injury. The Nats acquired Early for Curtis Mead. He will only throw 2 to 3 innings before Jake Irvin follows him.

Nationals 9/26

J. Wood RF
A. Ortiz DH
D. Crews CF
C. Abrams 2B
B. House 3B
D. Lile LF
Y. Morales 1B
K. Ruiz C
N. Nuñez SS

C. Early SP

— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) September 26, 2026

The Mets are making changes in the middle infield. Francisco Lindor will be the DH in this one. That pushes Brett Baty to shortstop. This will actually be Baty’s first MLB start at short. Ronny Mauricio will be at second base. Those are the only real changes the Mets are making. Jonah Tong will be on the mound.

Saturday's starters ⚾️@Novig | #LGMpic.twitter.com/d1uyZ0FKdR

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 26, 2026

Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 12:35 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

I am looking forward to seeing what Connelly Early can do in his Nats debut. It is exciting to see him finally on the mound in DC. With the Nats locked into 4th place, there is not a ton to play for standings wise, but it is great to see Early. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!

The 2026 Colorado Rockies have had a better year than the 2025 Colorado Rockies.

That is not exactly a difficult bar to clear after 43-119, but the improvement has been real and the floor of the roster is considerably higher.

There are still bad performances, of course, but Colorado simply does not have as many roster spots producing the kind of extreme negative value that overwhelmed the 2025 team. Some of that has come from young players developing and holdovers taking steps forward, but a large part of the improvement has also come from subtraction.

The Rockies changed a significant portion of the roster over the course of 2025 and into 2026.

Twenty-five players who received meaningful playing time in 2025 — at least 50 plate appearances for a position player or 10 innings for a pitcher — are no longer part of the Rockies’ major-league picture in 2026.

So what has happened to them?

For the most part, 2026 has not gone nearly as well for those players as it has for the Rockies.

Who left the 2025 roster

Departed Group	Players	2025 rWAR
Position players	12	-5.3
Pitchers	13	-5.5
Total	25	-10.8

Even that total is softened by two useful players the Rockies traded away.

Ryan McMahon produced 1.2 rWAR before being traded to the Yankees, while Jake Bird contributed another 0.5 rWAR before he was also dealt to New York.

Remove those two useful major leaguers and the other 23 departing players combined for -12.5 rWAR.

So where are those players a year later?

Where are they now?

2026 Status	Players	Count
MLB	Ryan McMahon, Ryan Rolison, Tyler Kinley, Jake Bird, Germán Márquez, Anthony Molina	6
High minors/MLB cameos	Michael Toglia, Orlando Arcia, Kyle Farmer, Yanquiel Fernández, Carson Palmquist, Austin Gomber, Ángel Chivilli, Bradley Blalock, Luis Peralta, Scott Alexander	10
Playing elsewhere	Thairo Estrada, Warming Bernabel, Nick Martini, Blaine Crim, Sam Hilliard	5
No 2026 game action / out of pro ball	Jacob Stallings, Sean Bouchard, Nick Anderson, Dugan Darnell	4

That is a pretty revealing snapshot of the 2025 roster one year later.

A few have found better results

Ryan Rolison is the clearest success story.

Rolison posted a 7.02 ERA over 42.1 innings for Colorado in 2025. One year later, he has become a very good reliever for the Cubs, carrying a 3.02 ERA and 1.26 WHIP across 62.2 innings, with 54 strikeouts, nine wins and three saves.

Tyler Kinley has also found more success after leaving. His Rockies portion of 2025 ended with a 5.66 ERA, but he immediately went on a strong run with Atlanta and has remained a useful major-league reliever in 2026. Between Atlanta and Detroit, Kinley has worked 56.2 innings over 63 appearances with a 3.49 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 48 strikeouts.

Germán Márquez has improved somewhat from his final season in Colorado, although his 2026 has not gone entirely smoothly. After posting a 6.70 ERA over 126.1 innings for the Rockies in 2025, he recorded a 5.26 ERA in 53 innings with San Diego. The Padres designated him for assignment in August and released him three days later, after which Márquez signed a minor-league deal with Minnesota and is finishing the year with Triple-A St. Paul.

Ryan McMahon remains an everyday player with the Yankees, although his offensive production has slipped. Through 122 games, McMahon is hitting .210/.276/.352 with 11 home runs and 40 RBI, good for a .628 OPS and 75 OPS+. He is still a major-league regular, just not a particularly productive one offensively.

Jake Bird has also remained in the majors, though his results have been uneven. He posted a 5.93 ERA over 30.1 innings with the Yankees before joining Washington, where he has allowed three earned runs over 8.1 innings for a 3.24 ERA. Overall, Bird has a 5.35 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 38.2 innings between the two clubs.

Anthony Molina has also found another major-league opportunity with San Francisco. He has worked 34 innings across nine appearances and five starts, going 3-2 with a 3.97 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 31 strikeouts.

Still, this is the exception rather than the rule. Only six of the 25 have spent most of 2026 in the majors.

MLB jobs have become Triple-A jobs

The players in the largest group still have plenty of professional baseball left in them. What has changed is their role.

Michael Toglia has again shown that Triple-A pitching is not much of a problem. After signing a minor-league deal with Cincinnati, he hit .273/.373/.547 with 22 home runs for Louisville and earned a return to the majors in August. His opportunity was cut short less than two weeks later when he dislocated his right shoulder on a diving catch against Arizona on August 21. He was placed on the injured list two days later, underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum, and was transferred to the 60-day injured list in September.

Yanquiel Fernández also remains interesting, especially considering his age. He has hit 27 home runs in Triple-A for the Yankees organization. That is a productive developmental season, but it comes after Fernández appeared in 52 games for the Rockies in 2025 and has not returned to the majors in 2026.

Austin Gomber’s 2025 season was shortened by a shoulder injury, but after returning in June he still made 12 starts for Colorado before being released in August. In 2026, he has bounced through the Triple-A rotations of Texas, Atlanta and Detroit and has not made it back to the majors.

Kyle Farmer has gone from 300 plate appearances with Colorado to a much more marginal role with Atlanta. His season has included a forearm injury, a July release and re-signing on a minor-league deal, and a September return to the majors after spending time with Triple-A Gwinnett.

Orlando Arcia has hit well in Triple-A but has received only a brief look with Minnesota.

Bradley Blalock was designated for assignment by Colorado in January and then traded to Miami for right-hander Jake Brooks. He has spent most of 2026 at Triple-A Jacksonville while earning a pair of September recalls with the Marlins.

Carson Palmquist opened 2026 in the Rockies organization but did not return to the majors with Colorado. He was designated for assignment in May and traded to Washington for cash, where he has received two major-league looks and is finishing the season with Triple-A Rochester.

Ángel Chivilli has made a stronger case with the Yankees. Acquired from Colorado in the January trade that sent TJ Rumfield to the Rockies, Chivilli has posted a 3.78 ERA over 16.2 major-league innings. That number was inflated by one six-run outing just before he was optioned in August; before that appearance, he had allowed only two earned runs in 15.2 innings. Still, he has spent most of the season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Luis Peralta and Scott Alexander have also spent 2026 as upper-level organizational depth.

There is still talent in this group.

What has disappeared is the regular major-league playing time.

Others are playing elsewhere

Several former Rockies are continuing their careers outside affiliated baseball.

Thairo Estrada has gone to the Mexican League and has hit well there, while Nick Martini has split his season between independent ball and Mexico. Warming Bernabel, who received 146 plate appearances for Colorado at age 23 in 2025, has appeared only briefly outside affiliated baseball this season.

Blaine Crim has taken a more circuitous route. He opened 2026 in the Rockies’ minor-league system, was designated for assignment in May and claimed off waivers by Texas. The Rangers released him about a month later, and Crim is now continuing his season in Korea with the NC Dinos, where he is hitting .255 with 10 home runs and 43 RBI.

He is not the only former Rockie to end up in the KBO.

Sam Hilliard has easily had the biggest year of anyone in this group. Playing for the KT Wiz, Hilliard is hitting .305/.374/.586 with 39 home runs, 122 RBI and a .960 OPS through 130 games.

Hilliard is having an excellent year, and Estrada has been productive in Mexico, too. But none of the five has occupied an MLB roster spot after receiving meaningful playing time for Colorado a year earlier.

And for a few, there has been no 2026 season

Jacob Stallings and Sean Bouchard have not played in 2026.

Nick Anderson went to spring training with Oakland before retiring in May.

Dugan Darnell signed with Detroit but spent the spring injured and was released without appearing in a regular-season game.

The overall picture is pretty simple.

Of the 25 players who received meaningful time for the 2025 Rockies and are out of Colorado’s major-league picture this year, only six are spending 2026 primarily in the majors. Ten are mostly in the high minors or have received only brief MLB opportunities, five are continuing their careers elsewhere and four have not recorded regular-season game action.

But most have not left Colorado and become more established major-league players.

Raising the floor

That helps explain one of the biggest differences between the 2025 and 2026 Rockies.

The floor is much higher.

Not every holdover has improved, and not every replacement has worked. But there simply is not another collection of players producing anything close to the -12.5 rWAR left behind by those 23 departures.

There is less extreme negative value on the roster, and that is a big part of why the 2026 Rockies are substantially better than the team that came before them.

It also means the next step gets harder.

There are still roster spots that could change this winter, and there should be plenty more movement. But this time the decisions will be more targeted. There is not another giant pile of obvious negative value waiting to be cut away.

The Rockies have benefited from aggressive turnover once.

There is no reason to stop now.

So, who stays? Who goes? And which current Rockies deserve another year before Colorado starts looking for an upgrade?

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A season ago, the Red Sox finished third in the American League East, winning 89 games. This season, depending on the result of a final game at Tropicana Field against the Chicago Cubs (a real sentence), the team will win 87 or 88 games.

Last year, Boston was the 5-seed playing at the New York Yankees, losing the series in three games. This year, they are the 5-seed playing a three-game series at the New York Yankees, beginning on Tuesday.

A year ago, the Sox limped into the playoffs without Roman Anthony, and Wilyer Abreu returning from a calf injury and not at full strength. This season, the status of Willson Contreras, arguably the team’s MVP, is unknown due to pain in his hand. His potential replacement, Mickey Gasper, will be out with “a pretty significant biceps injury.” Last year’s Game One starter, Garrett Crochet, is attempting to return in a relief role for the Wild Card series and isn’t at full strength.

It sure feels similar, and for me, going out in the Bronx would not be a successful season, whether the American League bracket format is “fair” or not. It’s been five years since the Red Sox won a playoff series, and expectations need to be higher around here.

This 2026 result was enough for management to pick up Craig Breslow’s options in 2029 and 2030, as well as sign Chad Tracy to a three-year contract, following this season.

What would make this Red Sox season a success for you? Discuss in the comments and be good to each other.

With both the Mets and Nationals having nothing to play for in the dog days of the season, it gives both clubs an opportunity to shake it up and test some things out with an eye towards next year. 

That's why the Mets will be giving Brett Baty a look at shortstop in Saturday afternoon's contest. 

"Where the season is right now, for us, this serves a purpose for 2027," manager Andy Green said. "Brett has been incredibly valuable bouncing around the field from a roster-construction prospective, as you look towards the future his ability to defend at short when Francisco [Lindor] needs a day off gives us flexibility if it's a viable solution.

"These games don't have playoff implications for either team, so we don't feel like we're necessarily shorting the industry by doing it at this point in time, and it serves a purpose for us towards the future."

Baty has appeared at shortstop three times this year, but this will be his first career start at the position. 

The 26-year-old infielder has continued taking groundballs out there throughout this season, and that's something that Green and the Mets expect to carry into spring training next year.

"Very much so," the skipper said. "I've had the privilege of coaching a lot of really good big-league infielders, [bench coach] Kai [Correa] has, and [third base coach] Tim Leiper has as well -- we all see in him the athleticism necessary to defend the field there on a fill-in basis -- Brett's incredibly athletic." 

Baty will also continue to see reps in the outfield, despite the emergence of Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing really digging into his playing time out there. 

"Brett very much could still slide to the outfield depending on what happens," Green emphasized. "You look around baseball and the best teams have someone like this who has the athleticism to do all of these things -- he's found a great measure of comfort at that as the year has gone on and we've seen his bat wake up and get loud.

"A loud bat for someone who can defend all over the field is incredibly invaluable -- you never know what hole you are going to have fill from different injuries in a season, so him being prepared to fill as many holes as possible for us could set us up really well heading into next year."

Baty has now added 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF, and RF to his toolbox. 

Mets lineup

Francisco Lindor – DH
Juan Soto – LF
Bo Bichette – 3B
Carson Benge – RF
Mark Vientos – 1B
Brett Baty – SS
Francisco Alvarez – C
A.J. Ewing – CF
Ronny Mauricio – 2B

SP: Jonah Tong (RHP)

Nationals lineup

James Wood – RF
Abimelec Ortiz – DH
Dylan Crews – CF
CJ Abrams – 2B
Brady House – 3B
Daylen Lile – LF
Yohandy Morales – 1B
Keibert Ruiz – C
Nasim Nunez – SS

SP: Connelly Early (LHP)

Broadcast info

First pitch: 12:35 PM EDT
TV: SNY
Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2

When it comes to making roster moves, the Mets are unmatched. On the penultimate day of the season, the team has optioned left-handed reliever Jefry Yan to the minors and called up right-handed reliever Chayce McDermott to take his place on the active roster.

Known for his enthusiastic and elaborate strikeout celebrations, Yan made his major league debut with the Mets this year and wound up throwing 20.1 innings with the team. In that time, he had a 4.87 ERA and a 4.82 FIP with 26 strikeouts and 15 walks.

McDermott had brief stints with the Orioles and Dodgers before the Mets picked him up this year, and he’s thrown 5.1 innings with the team at the major league level. In a total of 7.2 innings with the Mets and Dodgers this season, he has a 5.87 ERA and a 6.49 FIP. In 41.1 innings in the minors, he has a 3.92 ERA and a 3.82 FIP.

Jefry Yan's season has officially comes to an end. 

The Mets optioned the left-hander to the minors to bring in Chayce McDermott for Saturday's game. 

Yan joined the big-league roster midseason after they dealt all of their big bullpen arms.

The reliever showed some of the positives he put on display with Syracuse but ultimately faltered, being optioned back to the minors after allowing runs in each of his last four appearances from late-August to early-September. 

He eventually rejoined the squad and enjoyed some success, putting together 5.1 scoreless innings before allowing a pair of runs while serving as the opener for the first time in his career on Friday. 

Yan finishes his season with 4.34 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over his first 17 MLB appearances. 

It's a bit tough to see him back pitching for the Mets in meaningful games early on next season, but perhaps he'll be able to compete for a spot with the state of their bullpen. 

This is McDermott's second stint with the Mets since being acquired from the Dodgers at the deadline. 

I missed that one in the Chinese New Year list of animals. I remembered the sheep, rabbit, and snake, and then completely overlooked the “didn’t see that one coming” creature (possibly symbolized by a dead chicken in the road who crossed not noticing the approaching Toyota).

When anyone refers to baseball as “the most unpredictable of games,” 2026 provides a fine template. It also offers a useful reminder of the limited value pre-season predictions, projections, and prognostications hold. You may not have cared for the last sentence but please, give p’s a chance.

Exhibit A: The AL West

Much has been made of the AL West’s mediocrity and it reached a crescendo Friday night when both the Astros and Rangers lost (to teams with over 90 losses). Each club suffered its 81st loss in the process, ensuring they will not finish the season with a winning record.

What one of them will finish with, however, is a division crown. This means had the A’s been able to assemble a .500 team they would lining up their post-season rotation as we speak.

Exhibit B: The Sunken Mariners

Missing from the AL West showdown are the Mariners, who were practically unanimously picked to waltz away with the division title. Most projections had them winning somewhere between 88-94 games and had they gone, say, 91-71, they would have taken the division by 10-11 games.

Instead Seattle sputtered, treaded water, and sunk like the Holey Mariner, entering the final weekend 74-86. Inexplicably, Cal Raleigh followed up his historic 60 HR season by batting .169/.271/.310 in the first half of 2026, including a woeful May in which he hit .056/.128/.056 (2 for 36 with 2 singles) and a 41% K rate.

Exhibit C: The AL East

Today’s secret word is “Oops.” Check out ESPN’s analysis before the season ranking playoff odds and offering projected season records. Some highlights:

#2: Seattle Mariners (90 wins)
#4: Toronto Blue Jays (88 wins)
#6: New York Mets
#8: Detroit Tigers
#12: Baltimore Orioles (86 wins)
#15: Kansas City Royals
#17: San Francisco Giants (83 wins)

#21 on the list with a projected record of 79-83? That would be your Tampa Bay Rays, predicted to finish in the AL East cellar and offered a 23% chance of making the post-season at all.

In fact the Rays hold the American’s League’s best record at 97-63, sitting 18.5 games ahead of the Orioles and 19 up on the Blue Jays — the team ESPN figured would win 9 more games than the Rays). So they were only off by 28 games.

Individual anomalies also abound. I could have made quite the fortune had I been gutsy, flown to Vegas, and put my life savings on Carlos Cortes out homering Vlad Guerrero Jr. I mean there’s still 2 games left but the A’s LFer/reliever is leading 10-9. That’s partly because Guerrero Jr. is getting “out homered at home” 2-1 by Alika Williams.

So next spring, or whenever MLB and MLBPA cry “PLAY BALL!!!”, don’t be too quick to assume you know what’s going to unfold in 2027. Expect the unexpected and only then will you be right. It might just be the Rockies’ year.

We are all aware of the reputation Philadelphia has when it comes to underperforming athletes in this city. There are “boo birds” out en masse if a player does something that the city thinks isn’t up to their standards. Last night, against Tampa Bay, the fans were restless as scoring chance after scoring chance went wasted, frittered away by an offense that is so clearly pressing it’s barely funny.

When that ire is thrown from the stands, the suspects are usually the ones that have underperformed seemingly since the day they arrived. Trea Turner has been the subject of many a negative comment both in these parts and at the stadium in person. Alec Bohm frequently hears from the people when one of his cold streak appears out of nowhere. Much people’s current distaste has been directed at the currently 0 for his last 32 J.T. Realmuto, all of that completely justified.

However, there needs to be some criticism lobbed at the leadoff hitter. Kyle Schwarber has not just been ineffective lately, he’s been pretty ineffective for a while now.

The supposed fulcrum of the Phillies offense has been off for not just a little bit now. If we’re looking at recent runs, Schwarber’s last 14 days has seen him hit .143/.345/.262 with one home run. Stretch that back even 28 days and the line doesn’t really get all that much better (.185/.333/.380). His basing his entire offensive profile on hitting home runs is great and worth all the accolades he has been given in the past, but his dry spell is costing the team dearly.

Now, the entirety of the offense is currently to blame for their predicament. Meant to clinch a playoff spot earlier this week, they have found themselves in the position where missing the playoffs entirely is truly on the table and the cluster of the roster to blame is the offense. They have simply disappeared. When an All-Star starter disappears from the planet as far as production at the plate (Brandon Marsh’s wRC+ since 7/1 is 33), that is going to have an effect on the offense. When the catcher joins him in offensive ineptitude (Realmuto’s during that same time is a very not nice 69), that’s two hitters of nine that are just anchors on a lineup and what they can do.

But having a leadoff hitter that doesn’t do what he’s supposed to do is also a weight that is hard to ignore. Schwarber since 7/1 has hit .205/.336/.413, a paltry amount compared to what we have seen from him in the past. He’s hit 15 home runs in that time frame, which is great since the rest of the lineups has seen little power outside of him, but again, it’s not up to his standard.

And there are the strikeouts.

Holy cow, the strikeouts. He’s not nearly as strikeout prone as someone like Colson Montgomery, the young White Sox slugger that just whiffed his way to the MLB strikeout record for a season. But Schwarber truly looks lost at times at the plate, that he’s just unable to make contact when it is needed most. Two things that have been noticeable is that he’s not squaring the ball up

and he’s hitting the ball on the ground a lot more often.

It’s enough to make one wonder if there is something deeper at play, some kind of injury that he has been hiding that will require something done in the offseason.

There could be a few changes in mind to help with the malaise of the offense as a whole. Batting order changes, substitutions, something that can be used to shake up what looks to be a dormant group of hitters. Something in these final two games that maybe kickstart something drastic. Panicking? Maybe, but panic mode is probably in order right now.

What would really help is a leadoff hitter that was doing his job and right now, Kyle Schwarber is not doing that.

“But it turned out awful nice, I’ll tell you that — 16 years. You know, I lasted more than I thought I would. Boy, what a life. I really enjoyed every minute of it. Even when I was horseshit, I still liked it.”

As he approached his 100th birthday in 2025, Bobby Shantz took the opportunity to reflect on his career in baseball. More than 60 years since he’d hung up his cleats, he still had the mind of a ballplayer, reminiscing about the legends he played with and against with vividness and vibrancy. But he also had the perspective of a man who’d been on a long journey — and was grateful for every stop along the way.

Robert Clayton Shantz
Born: September 26, 1925 (Pottstown, PA)
Yankees Tenure: 1957-60

Shantz grew up in the suburbs in Pennsylvania. A small kid (his height peaked at 5-foot-6 as an adult), the young Bobby distinguished himself through pinpoint control and all-around athleticism. After his high school coach refused to let him pitch due to his size, a youth baseball manager saw Shantz working out his curveball and decided to give him a shot on the mound. He joined the Army in 1944 and continued to hone his craft on Army baseball teams while stationed in the Philippines, competing against big-leaguers and building confidence in his ability to go pro.

Upon his return to the States, Shantz continued to impress in semipro ball but struggled to find any takers among MLB teams due to his stature. Finally, after a couple of teammates with connections in the Philadelphia A’s organization put in a good word, Harry O’Donnell, a scout with the team, signed him to an A-Ball deal. He immediately impressed, winning 18 games in 28 starts and striking out nearly a batter an inning. The next year, at the age of 23, he made the leap all the way to the big leagues, where he would be managed by none other than Hall of Famer and baseball lifer Connie Mack.

In his first three seasons in Philly, the southpaw established himself as a strong contributor, pitching around league average and making his first All-Star team in 1951. But it was the following year that would be Shantz’s campaign for the ages. Seemingly out of nowhere, he emerged as the best pitcher in baseball, winning 24 games, posting a 152:63 K:BB ratio, recording a 2.48 ERA, 9.4 rWAR, and taking home the AL MVP. The career year was aided in part by the use of a knuckleball Mack had forbade him from employing but his new manager, Jimmie Dykes, encouraged.

In the ‘52 All-Star Game, Shantz struck out the side in his only inning of work, including punchouts of Jackie Robinson and Stan Musial. His newfound stardom even netted him a guest spot on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Philadelphia #Athletics pitcher Bobby Shantz makes a guest appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show"! (1952) #MLB#Baseball#Historypic.twitter.com/Ki98qqByA6

— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) November 13, 2023

As is so often the case after a superlative season like Shantz’s ‘52, the pitcher took a step back in the years that followed. As he struggled with injury and inconsistency, he went 13-26 with a 4.42 ERA over the next four years, failing to recapture his peak form on floundering A’s teams as the franchise moved to Kansas City. After the ‘56 campaign, the A’s traded their former MVP to the Yankees as part of a 13-player trade. Shantz was a man reborn, leading all of baseball with a 2.45 ERA in ‘57 and earning his first All-Star berth since his MVP season.

Shantz also took home the very first AL Gold Glove for a pitcher, his first of eight such awards earned between both leagues. The man’s legacy as one of the greatest fielding pitchers has never been in question. “I’ll occasionally hear a guy introduce me and say, ‘He was the best fielding pitcher in baseball,’ and I’ll say, ‘No, Bobby Shantz was,’” said Jim Kaat, winner of 16 Gold Gloves himself. “He didn’t win a Gold Glove until ’57. Had they given them out starting in ’50, he would have had 16 or 17 as well.”

Shantz made the only World Series start of his long career that October, taking the ball in Game 2 against the Milwaukee Braves. He struggled, allowing four runs (three earned) in three innings, but rebounded well in Game 4, tossing three scoreless innings in relief to keep the Yankees in a game they’d eventually tie up in the ninth.

Shantz spent three more years in pinstripes, eventually transitioning to a bullpen role, where he pitched well as a proto-closer. Despite finding his greatest individual success in Philadelphia, Shantz would later recount that his time with the Yankees—who won a championship in 1958 and the pennant in three of his four seasons there—was the most rewarding of his career.

After the ‘60 season, the Yankees left him exposed in an expansion draft. Shantz was selected by the Washington Senators, who flipped him to the Pirates. He’d spend the final four seasons of his career in a state of perpetual motion, pitching for five different teams as a trusted reliever. After the ‘64 season, at the age of 39, Shantz retired. The 5-foot-6 non-prospect who was rejected repeatedly at the start of his career had stuck around for 16 years in the big leagues.

Shantz retired back to Pennsylvania, where he managed a restaurant and co-owned a bowling alley. In 2010, Pottstown High School renamed their baseball park Bobby Shantz Field in honor of their famous alumnus.

As the years have gone on and he’s passed the century mark, Shantz has increasingly become the “oldest living” designee in many areas — oldest living MLB MVP, oldest living A’s player, and on down the line. He’s accepted this status with grace and humor, giving colorful interviews and staying connected to the game he loves.

100-year-old former AL MVP Bobby Shantz autographs his baseball card 75 years later…pic.twitter.com/ZBDhqKw3HG

— Topps (@Topps) May 31, 2026

On the occasion of his 101st birthday, we celebrate the oldest living Yankee, Bobby Shantz. We’ll let him take us out in his own words: “I had a great life. Jesus, great life. Boy, I’d like to do that all over again.”

---

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

The Magic Number remains at two, with two games remaining. A’s 6  Astros 5

In front of 9,012, Hunter Brown wasn’t spectacular; in fact, he was slightly above average for much of the night.    By the time Brown’s pitch count hit 100, he’d exit with a body of work showing four issued walks, one each during each of the opening three frames. Along the way, there were plenty of missed targets, a pair of hits and Brown’s visual frustration.   

Brown would exit in the 6th inning with 2 on (courtesy of an error by Jose Altuve that sabotaged a double play) and 1 out for Bennett Sousa. However, they wouldn’t be stranded for long. Sousa faced three batters, failed to register any outs and the runs began to pour in. The initial damage coming on Michael Stefanic’s two run pinch-hit RBI single.  The wheels came off after that.     

At one point, the A’s strung together four consecutive hits.   By the time it was all said and done, they’d send 10 men to the plate, scoring 6 runs and in the process, busting things wide open. Brown was charged with two runs.    

There were a few bright spots, the first coming from the bat of Christian Walker. Walker would take an inside fastball 425 feet to left field in the fourth inning which initially gave Houston a 1-0 lead. For Walker it was his third home run on this current road trip, his 28th for the season.    

Cam Smith also used the long ball, hitting his first homer in roughly two weeks, making things 6-2.  

In the Top Of the 8th, things would get interesting.  A’s reliever Geoff Hartlieb failed to find the strike zone to the tune of loading up the bases. LaMonte Wade & Isaac Paredes drew walks with an Alvarez single sandwiched in between.

Luis Medina was dreadful as the next reliever, validating the anemic nature of the A’s bullpen.    Jose Altuve would bring home Wade on a sacrifice fly, his 47th RBI of the year. Yainer Diaz scored Alvarez with a single to left, giving him 44 RBI on the year. Medina would then throw a wild pitch, scoring Paredes. The Astros put three up on the board, but it wasn’t enough.    

With the loss, Houston is now 79-81.     

Odds & Ends:

Yordan Alvarez now has 109 walks on this season.    

The Astros will face Jack Perkins on Saturday Night.    First pitch will once again be 8:40pm CDT.     Perkins has a record of 3-12 on the season with an ERA of 5.90.

Former Astro, Justin Verlander will make his final career start on Saturday for the Tigers.    It will be Verlander’s 557th time taking the mound.   

Diamondbacks News

Pfaadt Battles Hard, Diamondbacks Close to Within One Game of Philly
Brandon Pfaadt was far from his crispest, most dominant self on Friday. He worked most of his night with runners all over the bases. He still managed to gut out 7.2 innings, allowing only four runs in what will not go down as a quality start in the books, but was everything Arizona could ask for and then some to take game one of the season’s biggest series.

What Happened to Corbin Burnes and What is Plan B for Saturday?
Burnes was throwing a bullpen between his last start on Sunday and scheduled outing on Saturday, but it just did not feel right. General manager Mike Hazen said Burnes was not feeling pain, but the ball was not coming out right to where Burnes felt he could help the team. Burnes underwent an MRI in Phoenix on Friday and will receive a second opinion after landing on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. The Diamondbacks, facing a do or die situation in game two of the series against the San Diego Padres, look likely to use Ryne Nelson as an opener for a full-on bullpen game on Saturday.

Diamondbacks’ Postseason Push Takes a Turn and a Moreno Update
Diamondbacks’ backstop, Gabriel Moreno exited an Arizona rout of the Padres on Friday with tightness in his leg. Manager Torey Lovullo reports he expects Moreno to be fine and has pencilled him in as the team’s DH to rest the leg. Meanwhile, the team will be calling up another catcher to make sure they still have two available for the final two games of the regular season.

Sanchez DFA’d, Moreno Injured
The Jesus Sanchez experiment did not last long. It may well have finished the season if Gabriel Moreno had not left Friday night’s game early, due to tightness in his leg.

Hear me out phillies fans…

We purposely lose out and let the dbacks make the playoffs, because with their hot bats they are GUARANTEED to sweep the braves in the wild card round. Even if the phillies make the playoffs, we aren’t winning shit anyways. So let’s purposely let the…

— BohmIsKing (@BohmIsKing) September 26, 2026

Other Baseball News

What to Watch for in MLB’s Final Weekend
Playoff races will be determined. A Triple Crown is on the line. Gabriel Moreno tries to edge out Arraez for the NL batting title and more.

The updated NL Wild Card race with 2 games to go after the Diamondbacks win their 6th straight game.

Arizona also owns the tie-breaker over the Phillies. pic.twitter.com/HA9fewwouo

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) September 26, 2026

Weakest Positions From Remaining Playoff Contenders
It should surprise nobody that first base finds itself represented by the Diamondbacks, credited with a platoon of Tim Tawa and Pavin Smith.

Why Another 100-Loss Season is not Deterring Colorado Fans
Colorado has lost 100+ games for the third season in a row now. However, despite crossing the century mark for losses yet again, the team also posted a doble-digit improvement in the winning ways.

How to Watch Justin Verlander’s Final Start
Justin Verlander, future first-ballot Hall of Famer, one of only two players to ever tally a Rookie of the Year, MVP, and Cy Young Award, will make the final start of his career today. This is indeed the end of an era.