Framber Valdez's impetuous decision to drill Trevor Story in the back after a pair of Boston Red Sox home runs earned him a six-game suspension from Major League Baseball, the league announced Wednesday, May 6.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch was also suspended for one game. Valdez is expected to appeal the suspension, but Hinch must serve it Wednesday, when the Red Sox and Tigers conclude their series.
Valdez was tagged for 10 runs -seven earned - and three home runs by the Red Sox in just three-plus innings of their 10-3 loss. And after yielding consecutive home runs to Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu in the fourth inning, Valdez drilled Story between the numbers with the first four-seam fastball he's thrown this season.
That resulted in a benches-clearing incident, and Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, in so many words, admonished Valdez for sparking the fracas. Red Sox manager Chad Tracy called it "weak."
"I think we all know what's what," Story told reporters. "It's pretty indisputable."
MLB certainly agreed.
Valdez is in the first season of a three-year, $115.5 million contract with the Tigers. His blow-up came one day after the club found out ace and two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal would miss multiple months due to elbow surgery to remove loose bodies.
The Tigers managed to sign Valdez late in the free agent process last winter as he lingered on the market, a few months after he denied intentionally crossing up his catcher after giving up a grand slam while with the Houston Astros.
Feb 25, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees infielder Jonathan Ornelas (64) forces out Washington Nationals left fielder Christian Franklin (33) and throws the ball to first base for a double play during the third inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Infielder Jonathan Ornelas has played in 22 of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders’ first 32 games this season. Whenever he has been called upon, he has been ready. He has hit safely in 13 of those 22 games, including six multi-hit games. He is batting .339 (21 for 62) with two doubles, one triple, two home runs, 10 RBIs and 15 runs.
During last week’s series against the Buffalo Bisons, he came up clutch in the game April 30. His RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning tied the game, 2-2, and his single in the bottom of the 10th won it, 5-4.
Defensively, he has played 12 games at second base, six at third base and four at shortstop. He has committed one error (throwing) in 73 chances with 26 putouts, 46 assists and five double plays. “I just try to take it day by day whether I’m in the lineup or not in the lineup,” Ornelas said. “(Manager) Shelley (Duncan) likes to put guys in even when they’re not playing, so I know I have to come to the field ready because I could be going in in the seventh or eighth inning whether it’s to pinch-run or hit or play defense, whatever the case may be. Overall, I just know that whatever my role is, I have to be prepared every single day.”
Ornelas was drafted in the third round in 2018 by the Texas Rangers. He worked his way up through the organization and made his major league debut August 7th, 2023, at Oakland. With the score tied at three, he entered the game as a pinch-runner in the top of the eighth inning for Mitch Garver and wound up scoring the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice by Travis Jankowski. The Rangers won, 5-3.
“It was a nice debut,” he said. “But the first week and a half, two weeks I was up there, I didn’t get an at-bat.”
He was sent back down to Triple-A Round Rock, but called up a few weeks later. This time he did get his first major league at-bat. It was against the A’s again in Arlington, Texas, on Sept, 9, 2023. With the bases loaded and the score tied, 2-2, in the bottom of the seventh, he was sent up to pinch-hit for Jankowski.
“It was a big situation and the A’s brought a lefty in from the pen,” Ornelas said. “The good thing about it was the guy on the mound, I had faced him before, so I had some familiarity. It wasn’t like, Wow, all these things being thrown at me at once. I got to 0-2 really fast, then the guy threw a breaking ball in the dirt, got past the catcher and the tying run scored. That’s when I was relieved of all the pressure and I ended up having a good at-bat and having a good swing.”
Coincidentally, he flew out to the warning track in right field and the ball was caught by current RailRiders teammate Seth Brown.
After going 0-fer in his first five at-bats, Ornelas finally got his first major league hit Sept. 15, 2023, at Cleveland. It was a single to left field in the ninth inning off Eli Morgan in a 12-3 loss.
“It was really good to get my first hit out of the way like that in a game like that,” Ornelas said. “I was able to feel a little more comfortable. My emotions weren’t super high or super tense. But we ended up losing the game. So, yeah, I was happy, but in the big leagues it’s all about winning. It was cool to have this moment for myself, but I wanted to be part of the team and help them win as much as I could.”
In 2024, he played 18 games in the majors and 88 games at Triple-A. He started last season at Round Rock, then was traded to the Atlanta Braves on May 24. He played 85 games with Triple-A Gwinnett and appeared in two games with the Braves in August.
“It was a lot to process,” Ornelas said. “I felt like I was with the Rangers for such a long time, that’s all I knew. I completely forgot that a process like being traded and being with another team kind of existed. But it ended up being a good experience for me. I was able to figure myself out. It was a difficult year for me overall last year, but it was good that I went through the things I went through because it made me better overall.”
Although his major league career has only consisted of 32 games, Ornelas enjoyed every moment of it.
“It was a surreal moment in the beginning, definitely tried to soak it all in as much as I could,” he said. “It was difficult because I still had to try to go out there and perform. But it was everything everybody had told me about and more. It exceeded all expectations. I loved it. I loved every bit of my time with the Rangers and with the Braves. I’m excited to keep on the journey and get back to the big leagues soon.”
The Yankees signed Ornelas as a free agent in November. In his short time with the organization, he believes he is getting the development that he needs.
“I feel like that was a big thing coming over here,” Ornelas said. “Where I struggled last year and years prior is kind of where the Yankees excel. It was good fit for me. I think I’ve gotten a lot better in a lot of those areas. A main one was getting the ball off the ground. The exit velocity and stuff like that is there. I hit the ball hard, but on the ground. So I think I’ve been able to improve in those areas and the guys here have helped me a ton in all those aspects.”
A good spring training has carried over into the start of the season. Ornelas likes the chemistry that the RailRiders have. Even though his name may not be on the lineup card every day, he knows he has to be ready when his name is called.
“Whenever I get my opportunity to play, I just have to go out and do my thing,” Ornelas said. “Not think about it too much. Just realize that other things are going on around me and just take care of the things I can control and everything else will be all right.”
After being home at PNC Field for two weeks, the RailRiders (18-14) are on the road this week in Worcester against the Red Sox.
Here are some highlights:
The RailRiders won eight of 12 games, going 4-2 against both Rochester and Buffalo.
Spencer Jones, in the Buffalo series, batted .400 (10 for 25) in six games with five home runs, 11 RBIs and five runs. Jones leads the International League with 37 RBIs and is tied for second with 10 home runs. Eight of Jones’ home runs have been solo, the other two grand slams.
Oswaldo Cabrera batted 9 for 16 (.563) with four doubles and two RBIs in five games against Buffalo.
Reliever Zach Messinger went 1-0, not allowing a run or a hit in two games covering 5.1 innings against Buffalo with three walks and two strikeouts. Fellow reliever Yovanny Cruz also had a win and didn’t give up a run in two games covering 3.2 innings with two hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Cruz (4-0) is tied for third in the IL in wins and has one save, a 0.69 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 13 innings.
Top prospect George Lombard Jr. finished his first week in Triple-A going 5 for 17 (.235) with four runs, three walks and five strikeouts.
The Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association on Wednesday afternoon announced via social media on X, formerly known as Twitter, that a current Major League Baseball star will be sponsoring their annual Mr. Baseball Award.
Per the TBCA, Los Angeles Dodgers’ star Mookie Betts has become the title sponsor for the association’s prestigious Mr. Baseball Award. With Betts’ sponsorship of the award, the association said the honor moving forward will now known as the Mookie Betts Mr. Baseball Award.
“The Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association is proud to announce (Mookie Betts) as the title sponsor of the prestigious Mr. Baseball Award! Beginning this year, the honor will officially become the Mookie Betts Mr. Baseball Award,” the statement read on social media.
The Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association is proud to announce @mookiebetts as the title sponsor of the prestigious Mr. Baseball Award! Beginning this year, the honor will officially become the Mookie Betts Mr. Baseball Award.
— Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association (@TBCAorg) May 6, 2026
Betts since his time playing in MLB for the Boston Red Sox and Dodgers has become one of the most notable names in the game. The multifaceted Betts played for the Red Sox from 2014 to 2019 before being traded to the Dodgers, where he’s won four World Series titles.
Before Betts went on to become one of the best players in the game of baseball on the professional level, he starred at Nashville (TN) Overton High School, where as a junior he batted a sensational .548 average with 24 steals.
More about the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association
“The Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association is built on the belief that the growth of baseball in our state depends on the dedication, passion, and leadership of its coaches. Our mission is to advance the game by supporting coaches, fostering player development, and strengthening the baseball community across Tennessee.
Since its founding in the early 1990s, the TBCA has established itself as one of the premier coaches’ associations in the South. Our structure and vision have served as a model for other states, inspiring the creation and reorganization of similar associations nationwide. Together, we remain committed to growing the game, building strong relationships, and ensuring a lasting legacy for baseball in Tennessee.”
More about Overton High School
Overton High School, located in Nashville, TN, offers a comprehensive education for students in grades 9-12. Known for its diverse community, the school emphasizes academic excellence, a wide array of extracurricular activities, and strong athletic programs, including football and basketball. The Bobcats foster a culture of teamwork and leadership, encouraging students to excel both academically and athletically. Overton also provides various support services to help students succeed, preparing them for future challenges in higher education and beyond.
Apologies to anyone who was looking for a mega roundup on Monday recapping the weekend’s games. I sadly was unable to get to it this time around, but you can expect it next weekend! Now let’s dive into Tuesday’s action on the farm, which featured 4 games … the Arizona Complex League is in action, but High-A Eugene had the day off.
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
Not too much news. The Giants added to their international signing corps, by inking 16-year old Venezuelan LHP Moises Soto. Catcher Ty Hanchey was sent from High-A Eugene to AAA Sacramento to add some depth behind the dish for the River Cats after Jesús Rodríguez’s promotion. AAA LHP Nick Margevicius and High-A utility player Jean Carlos Sio (No. 44 CPL) were sent to the Complex League to begin rehab assignments.
AA Richmond RHP Darien Smith was named Pitcher of the Month in the Eastern League after finishing the month with a 1.35 ERA (which was lowered after his 1st May outing, when he tossed 5 shutout frames). And High-A Eugene LHP Charlie McDaniel earned Pitcher of the Month honors in the Northwest League, after a 1.10 ERA in 4 April starts (he also lowered his figures with his 1st May outing, as he threw 4 scoreless innings). Congrats to the pair, who were both undrafted free agents!
AAA Sacramento (17-15)
Sacramento River Cats lost to the Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) 4-0 Box score
It goes without saying that Monday’s promotions of Bryce Eldridge (No. 1 CPL) and Jesús Rodríguez (No. 16 CPL) are incredibly exciting for anyone watching the Major League team. But there’s a necessary evil in there: it sure makes the AAA team a lot less exciting. And so it was very fitting that the River Cats began the next chapter of their season by getting shut out, and failing to record an extra-base hit at all.
With Eldridge and Rodríguez gone, Sacramento only has 2 position players who appeared on our Community Prospect List, but that pair provided the bulk of the team’s 6 hits, as right fielder Victor Bericoto (No. 35 CPL) hit 2-4, while second baseman Nate Furman (No. 39 CPL) went 2-5 with a strikeout. Neither player has an outrageous overall line in their 1st real run through AAA — Bericoto has an .822 OPS and a 119 wRC+, while Furman is at .780 and 118 — but their contact skills have been very impressive. For the right-handed hitting Bericoto, that means a .313 batting average and a 19.7% strikeout rate, and for the left-handed hitting Furman, a .287 average and a 12.1% K rate.
Center fielder Harrison Bader began his rehab assignment and hit 1-3 with a strikeout. The single was loud contact, but the reports from the McCoven weren’t stellar.
It was a very rough game for RHP Carson Seymour, who couldn’t find the strike zone. Seymour threw just 55 of 91 pitches for strikes while walking 4 batters in 5.2 innings, and hitting another. When he did find the strike zone, things went pretty well for him: he gave up 5 hits in those 5.2 innings, with 4 being singles and 1 a double, and he struck out 6 batters. The strikeouts have been lacking a little bit this year, so that was nice to see for Seymour, who now has a 4.50 ERA and a 4.77 FIP through 7 starts after giving up 4 runs in this game.
LHP Sam Hentges made another rehab appearance and pitched 1.1 no-hit innings with a strikeout, though he walked 2 batters. Through 9 rehab games and 9 innings, Hentges has allowed just 2 hits, but the reports continue to be that he isn’t looking great … in this game, his fastball sat around 91 and peaked at 92.3, which is quite a drop from his last stint in the Majors, when he averaged 95. Hentges’ rehab window is about to close, so the Giants will have to make a decision on whether this version of him is an upgrade over Ryan Burucki or not. Hentges is on a Major League deal and doesn’t have options, so the Giants hands are a little tied, though if the dip in velo is at all due to physical issues, they could throw him back on the Injured List.
The Squirrels just keep rolling along, and they did it this game on both sides of the ball, with a dominant pitching performance and a barrage of big flies.
Let’s start on the mound, because we haven’t had a ton of opportunities to give LHP Joe Whitman (No. 26 CPL) his flowers lately, and this game provided such a chance. Whitman had one of his best games as a pro, pitching 6 dominant scoreless innings, while allowing only 1 hit. He did a good job of staying in the strike zone and staying ahead in counts, and finished the day with 7 strikeouts against just 2 walks.
That part is good and dandy, but it’s the 1 hit that really stands out to me. Whitman has had solid strikeout and walk numbers for a while, which is part of why his FIP has dramatically outperformed his ERA ever since he arrived in Richmond at the start of the 2025 season. But the former compensatory round selection (No. 69 overall in 2023) just keeps throwing hittable pitches: he gave up 129 hits in 117.1 innings last year, and was at almost exactly a hit per inning entering this start.
With the outing, Whitman lowered his ERA to 4.76 and his FIP to 3.36 … he’ll have to keep working on the hit suppression, but his strikeout rate (30.2%) minus walk rate (8.6%) now ranks 7th out of 39 Eastern League pitchers with at least 20 innings thrown this year. There’s a solid foundation there.
RHP Tyler Vogel followed up Whitman’s great game with a dominant bounce-back performance. Vogel started the year with 7 consecutive outings without an earned run, but gave up earned runs in each of his last 2 outings. This one? 2 perfect innings with 3 strikeouts, while throwing 16 of 21 pitches for strikes. Fantastic! Walks have been a huge issue for Vogel this year (he has 11 in 12 innings), but he’s been quite a strikeout artist and has limited damage with the bat. He has a 1.50 ERA on the year, though the walks have inflated his FIP to 5.16.
On offense there were big swings abounding, and Richmond really took advantage of their hits: they only had 8 of them, but 6 went for extra bases. The biggest hit and biggest day both belonged to shortstop Maui Ahuna (No. 33 CPL), who hit 2-4 with a 2-run home run to cap the scoring.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) May 6, 2026
Ahuna, who struck out once, has shown some impressive things as he adjusts to AA life after just 11 games in High-A. Concerns remain — his swinging strike rate of 19.8% is the 3rd-highest among the 97 qualified hitters in the Eastern League, while his 31.7% strikeout rate is 15th-highest — but there’s no denying the impact he can have on the ball when he does make contact. Ahuna now has 10 extra-base hits in 101 plate appearances this year (including 3 home runs), and his .178 isolated slugging percentage is comfortably above league average. Those are highly impressive traits for someone who is a dynamic defensive player at shortstop!
First baseman Sabin Ceballos (No. 43 CPL) homered again, in yet another data point suggesting that his lackluster 2025 is well behind him.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) May 6, 2026
The 23-year old saw his power evaporate in AA last year, where he had just 6 home runs in 420 plate appearances. But after Tuesday’s game he has already matched those 6 home runs … and in just 106 plate appearances. Whatever he did this offseason worked, as he’s sitting on a .922 OPS and a 137 wRC+. You have to wonder if he might be one of the earlier promotions this year, given his experience at the level, his current performance, and the fact that his primary position (third base) is currently blocked by a higher-ranking prospect in Richmond, while both corners are fairly open in Sacramento.
Rounding out the dinger party was designated hitter Zach Morgan, who went 1-3 with a sacrifice fly and a solo shot, his 1st of the year. A 7th-round pick in 2022, Morgan is more organizational depth than pure prospect at this point, and only has 35 plate appearances on the year as he is behind Drew Cavanaugh (No. 19 CPL) and Adrián Sugastey on the catcher depth chart. But he’s made the most of his opportunities, as the 26-year old is sporting a 1.020 OPS and a 174 wRC+ through those 35 plate appearances.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) May 6, 2026
Left fielder Scott Bandura continued his dynamic season by hitting 1-2 with a double, 2 walks, and a stolen base, while center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) and third baseman Parks Harber (No. 17 CPL) both hit 1-4 with a double and a strikeout.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) May 6, 2026
Low-A San Jose (17-11)
San Jose Giants lost to the Fresno Grizzlies (Rockies) 13-11 (10 innings) Box score
You would think, given the 13 runs allowed, that it was an awful day on the pitching front for the Baby Giants. However, it was not. It was an awful day for the bullpen, but only after one of the best starts of the season in the system, from one of the top pitching prospects: RHP Keyner Martinez (No. 10 CPL).
Martinez positively overpowered the Grizzlies hitters, with a dazzling 10 strikeouts and 0 walks in just 5 innings of action. What a performance! He only gave up 3 hits and 1 run in that time, which lowered his ERA to 4.35 and his FIP to 3.82. As those numbers show, it hasn’t been a great season for Martinez, who was one of the breakout stars of the 2025 season on the farm. But for the 21-year old Venezuelan, it seems to be a case of just needing a few outings to adjust to the level, which he only got a brief taste of last year. Martinez, who employs a wicked fastball/slider combo meal, gave up 7 earned runs in 6.2 innings over his 1st 2 starts of the year … but in 3 starts since? Just 8 hits and 3 runs in 14 innings, and with 25 strikeouts. My goodness!
A year after striking out 12.6 batters per 9 innings, Martinez has pumped that number up to an other-worldly 14.8 this season. The walks have also spiked, but that’s almost entirely due to 1 start, when he issued 5 of them. It’s been a very impressive season for Martinez, who simply appears to have stuff that is far too nasty for the Cal League.
The same cannot be said for the quartet of arms that followed, as each of them allowed 3 runs: RHPs Alix Hernandez (in 2 innings), Cooper McGrath (in 1.1 innings), Fernando Vasquez (who didn’t record an out), and Garrett Langrell (in 1.2 innings, with only 2 of the runs earned).
In the batter’s box it was a well-balanced day, with production up and down the lineup. But it was the top of the lineup that really shined, with the 1st 3 hitters continuing their excellent seasons. Leading off was shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL), who had just another casual day at the office, hitting 3-6 with a double, a stolen base, and a strikeout.
Jhonny Level delivers his fifth game of the season with 3+ hits for the @SJGiants 💥
MLB's No. 91 prospect (@SFGiants) ranks in the top 6 in the Single-A California League in TB (59), AVG (.343) and OPS (.967): pic.twitter.com/1KsLKTzG28
Level is no longer hitting an extra-base hit seemingly every at-bat, but he’s still having a magical season that only gets more magical when you remember that he’s a defensively-talented shortstop who just turned 19. Among 71 qualified hitters in the California League, Level is 4th in batting average (.343), 17th in on-base percentage (.405), 7th in slugging percentage (.562), 6th in OPS (.967), 9th in wRC+ (140), and tied for 10th in stolen bases (8). All while being more than 2 years younger than his peers in Low-A. He’s the real deal, folks!
Next up was right fielder Cam Maldonado (No. 34 CPL), who continued his tear, hitting 3-6 with a triple, a double, a stolen base, and 2 strikeouts. Like Level, Maldonado is making the rest of the Cal League look silly: of those 71 qualified hitters, he’s 9th in average (.333), 12th in on-base percentage (.423), 1st in slugging percentage (.644), 1st in OPS (1.067), 2nd in wRC+ (156), and tied for 5th in stolen bases (10). Last year’s 7th-round pick started the year hitting 6-34 with 0 extra-base hits … and since then has gone 23-53 with 12 extra-base hits. It would seem that the 22-year old figured something out!
Cam Maldonado continues his reign of terror over the California League with an RBI triple to put the Giants up early! pic.twitter.com/T8C1lqYMXL
And then it was last year’s 15th-round pick, left fielder Damian Bravo, who went 2-5 with a double, a stolen base, and 2 strikeouts. Like Maldonado, Bravo was cold to start the year, but has found his groove in a big way, and is up to an .886 OPS and a 110 wRC+ on the season.
Third baseman Dario Reynoso also had a very nice day, hitting 1-4 with a home run, a walk, and a stolen base, while striking out twice. As he did last year, the 21-year old right-hander is putting up fabulous numbers despite striking out way too much: he has a .824 OPS and a 120 wRC+, but has a 32.6% strikeout rate.
Second baseman Lorenzo Meola (No. 23 CPL) had a much-needed nice day, as he hit 2-4 with a walk and a stolen base, though he struck out twice. That broke last year’s 4th-round pick out of a slump, as he had gone 0-16 with 10 strikeouts in his past 4 games. It’s been a very rough 1st full season for Meola, who has just a .196 average, a .543 OPS, and a 46 wRC+ with a 30.5% strikeout rate. But it’s early days, and his defense emphatically is not struggling.
LEAPING LORENZO. Lorenzo Meola goes all the way up to secure the first out of the third. pic.twitter.com/rXUI56V9Ll
ACL Giants lost to the ACL D-backs 8-6 (7 innings) Box score
If anyone was questioning San Francisco’s decision to start shortstop Luis Hernández (No. 6 CPL), the consensus top international signing in the sport in January, in the states, question no more. Hernández made one hell of an impression on in his professional debut over the weekend, as his 1st career hit was a grand slam that tied the game with 2 outs in the 9th inning.
That was not an outlier display of power, as on Tuesday, in his 3rd career game, Hernández again went deep, this time a solo shot as part of a 1-4 day that had no strikeouts. Those are the only 2 hits that the recently-turned 17-year old has in 13 plate appearances, but who cares. He is fitting in in a big way, and it’s pretty clear that this is the right level for him to start his career at.
His fellow star prospect shortstop, Josuar González (No. 2 CPL) didn’t play in this game, as the Giants are slow-playing the switch-hitter following a mild injury in the spring. González did play in each of the ACL Giants’ 1st 2 games, though he didn’t play a full game either time. But even when he doesn’t play there’s good news about him!
Ran into scout friend at field today. He asked me if I’d seen a better defensive shortstop on the complex. I paused, thought on it. I’d put him up there with teenage Ezequiel Tovar, who was part of a Rockies minicamp in late 2019 https://t.co/I63QB0oMAi
Yes, folks, it is worth being very, very excited about the Giants young middle infielders!
Third baseman Yulian Barreto had a delightful game, hitting 2-2 with a hit by pitch and a stolen base. Barreto, an 18-year old from Venezuela, had a dynamic debut season last year, posting a 134 wRC+ with just a 14.5% strikeout rate in the DSL. So far he seems to be settling into the states quite nicely, as he’s 4-8 with a walk, though he has struck out 4 times.
Left fielder Jean Carlos Sio (No. 44 CPL) missed the start of the season with an injury, and is rehabbing in the ACL. He hit 1-3 with a double and a strikeout in this game, before handing the position to 19-year old Oliver Tejada, who doubled in his only at-bat while also recording an outfield assist.
A pretty tough game for the pitchers. RHP Alexander Fuentes got the start in his season debut, and gave up 3 hits and 3 walks in just 3 innings … but he struck out 5 batters, and limited the damage to just 1 run. Fuentes, a 21-year old in his 3rd season, is repeating the level despite having a 2.62 ERA last year (though he had a 3.97 FIP and 4.5 walks per 9 innings). He’s hoping to book a ticket to San Jose soon.
RHP Samir Chires had a really nice game, striking out 4 batters in 2.1 shutout innings, while giving up 2 hits and 0 walks. It might be go time for the 22-year old Chires, who is beginning his 4th Complex League season, and has yet to make it to A-ball.
A very tough debut for RHP Trey Seeley, the organization’s 14th-round pick in July. This was his 1st professional game, and he gave up 3 hits, 1 walk, and 3 earned runs, while recording just 1 out.
Sacramento: 12:05 p.m. PT vs. Reno (SP: Spencer Bivens) Richmond: 4:05 p.m. PT vs. Akron (SP: Trystan Vrieling) Eugene: Off day San Jose: 6:00 p.m. PT vs. Fresno (SP: Jordan Gottesman)
Reminder that almost all MiLB games can be watched on MLB TV
The Detroit Tigers placed second baseman Gleyber Torres on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a mild left oblique strain, the latest blow to a franchise already reeling from the loss of ace Tarik Skubal and the looming threat of a Framber Valdez suspension.
Torres, 29, left Saturday’s game against Texas in the fourth inning after experiencing left side tightness and has not played since. This is the second time Torres has dealt with a left oblique issue. He missed time last season with the same injury. Jace Jung was called up to take Torres’ roster spot.
The timing could not be worse for Detroit.
Skubal, the two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner, was placed on the injured list Monday and is set to undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, with a recovery timeline of roughly two to three months. The 29-year-old had posted a 2.79 ERA with 45 strikeouts against just six walks in 43 1/3 innings before going down.
Then on Tuesday night there was drama.
Valdez gave up back-to-back home runs to Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu, then hit Trevor Story with a 94-mile per hour fastball on the first pitch of his at-bat, clearing both benches. Valdez insisted it wasn’t intentional. The Red Sox weren’t buying it. MLB announced a six-game suspension for Valdez on Wednesday, a huge blow for the Tigers.
Detroit’s injured list already includes Casey Mize, Justin Verlander, Reese Olson and Jackson Jobe. The Tigers sit at 18-19, tied with Cleaveland for first place in the American League Central. They finish a three-game series with Boston on Wednesday night at Comerica Park and then head to Kansas City to play the Royals over the weekend.
Torres was hitting .259 with two home runs this season. The former Yankee returned to the Tigers this season on a one-year qualifying offer of $22 million after an All-Star 2025 season. His return timeline is unclear, though oblique strains historically require more than the minimum 10-day stint.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: Andrew Vaughn #28 of the Milwaukee Brewers stands on deck during a Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on March 16, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game Summary
The Brewers jump Pallante for an early 4-0 with a 3-run HR by Vaughn being the mortal blow. After, the pitchers traded outs into the middle innings, the Brewers tacked on a small-ball run in the fifth to extend the lead. Otherwise, both teams had some traffic but couldn’t buy a big hit, carrying a 5-0 lead deep into the game. Single tallies in the bottom of the 8th, top of the 9th and bottom of the 9th blemished the late relievers’ lines but did little to alter the outcome.
Line-up (and roster) machinations
An early start today, followed by a long flight to San Diego tonight.
Typical line-up, but with Pages catching Pallante.
Urias to the IL yesterday. That tennis elbow from spring never healed. Time for full rest.
A twelve-pitch sequence defines the game
Pallante gets two quick outs to start the game. Then a quick succession of single, HBP, single (of the RBI variety) and a long 3-run HR that is absolutely mashed for a quick 4-0 lead.
Cardinals put two runners on in the bottom of 1, with a Herrera double and a Walker walk. Sproat was pitching around Walker. Man, things have changed. Gorman strikes out. So, not everything has changed. In the end, the Cardinals are unable to respond.
The middle innings mostly quiet for both teams
Pallente works a quick clean second inning. Cardinals get Church on via HBP, but otherwise quiet inning. Pallante faces the minimum 3 batters in the third, aided by a GIDP following a Chourio single. Pallante walks Bauer leading off the fourth, but promptly picks him off, then induces a couple of ground ball outs. All this efficiency gets APs pitch count back in order, which become the small victory of this game. In the bottom of the fourth, Walker leads off with a walk, steals second (somewhere an old schooler is turning over in his grave, stealing down 4-0). Gorman walks as well, but a Winn lineout and a Fermin GIDP upends the brief attempt at a rally.
The Brewers extend the lead
In the fifth, the Brewers manufacture a small ball run with 2 IF singles, an F9 that advances the runner to third and an ill-timed wild pitch (is there ever a well-timed WP?). After a walk to complicate things further, a K quells the uprising.
Pallente makes it through six innings
Pallante returns for the sixth as the Cardinals prioritize getting another inning from a starter. A single, followed by a line-out and force-out continue the lackluster pace to the game, but yet another IF single adds drama, but AP gets a 6-3 to get through the sixth. Not quite a QS.
APs line: 6 IP. 8 H. 5 R. 2 BB. 3 K. 1 HR (the killer). 104 pitches.
The middle innings go quietly
After Sproat is unable to get beyond the 4th inning (manager’s decision), DL Hall relieves Sproat and works a quiet bottom of the fifth. Shuster in for Pallante to start the 7th. He works a 1-2-3 inning. Ashby relieves Hall and works a 1-2-3 sixth. That makes eight batters set down in a row. Ashby remains in and extends the streak of outs to ten before Fermin draws a walk inducing a check-swing 3u groundball from Pages.
Shuster remains in the 8th. A harmless 2-out single is all to report here.
Late inning hijinks change the score, but not the outcome
Megill in for Ashby for the Brewers. Scott II singles, first hit for the Cardinals since the first inning. JJW K’s on high heat. Teams are liking to throw that heat up at the top edge with him. Scott steals second. Herrera K’s again. Unusual. Must be the DH penalty + daytime getaway game penalty. Burleson with an RBI single. Walker bounces back to Megill to end the rally.
Swanson in for Shuster in the ninth. Two backwards K’s show us he is on the road back, but a single and a double by the red-hot Chourio extends the lead to 6-1. A walk shows us there is more work to be done before a ground out quells the insurrection.
Uribe relieves Megill, not a save opportunity. Gorman opens with a double, advancing to third on a Winn ground out. A rare Ortiz error plates a second run and puts Fermin on first and brings a brief rise from the crowd, but a GIDP by Prieto ends any suspense. Brewers defeat the Cardinals 6-2.
Post-Game Notes
Check out Today on the Farm – Wednesday 5/6 for updates on MiLB action.
On to San Diego for a four-game set against the Padres, followed by three games in Sacramento against the homeless A’s.
Is it my imagination, or does the Cardinal offense struggle on getaway day games?
Burleson is really struggling with seeing the ball. Has been for a bit now.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 20: Sonny Gray #54 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Fenway Park on April 20, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TV: NESN
First Pitch: 6:40 p.m. ET
The Red Sox found a way to take a deep breath and played relaxed over the last two nights. It’s the best thing that could’ve happened for Boston as a three-game sweep is on the line for the first time this season.
Sonny Gray returns from the injured list and makes his first start since April 20 on Patriots’ Day. Carlos Narvaez does the catching for the veteran starter.
Here’s who the Red Sox will send to the plate Wednesday night.
The Tigers counter with Jack Flaherty, who also pitched at Fenway Park on April 20. Flaherty lasted just 3 ⅓ innings in that start and gave up 10 earned runs over his last two outings.
SURPRISE, AZ - FEBRUARY 19: Eric Cerantola #87 of the Kansas City Royals poses for a photo during the Kansas City Royals Photo Day at Surprise Stadium on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Royals announced they have called up reliever Eric Cerantola from Triple-A Omaha and have optioned Stephen Kolek to the Storm Chasers. Kolek earned the win in last night’s game against Cleveland, making a spot start for the injured Noah Cameron, with three runs allowed in six innings. Cerantola had a 1.42 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 12.2 innings for Omaha.
The Canadian-born Cerantola was a fifth-round pick in 2021 out of Mississippi State. He was added to the 40-man roster after the 2024 season, but had mixed results last year. He finished with a 4.04 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 49 innings in Triple-A, missing some time with injury. He pitched briefly for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, making two scoreless appearances.
The Royals like his power arm, though, with a fastball that has reached 99-100 mph. Cerantola uses the heater a lot, which is why it can be vulnerable to contact with average movement and vert. His plus 82-87 mph breaking ball — he calls it a curveball — is sharp with good break and spin, missing bats and getting chase. Cerantola reintroduced a fringe-average-to-average changeup into his arsenal recently, and although he hasn’t used the 85-87 mph offering much, it will be helpful against lefties and could help the fastball play up.
Kolek has made six starts for the Royals since being acquired from the Padres, and has a Quality Start (at least 6 innings, with 3 or fewer runs) in each, with a 2.31 ERA in a Royals uniform.
May 6, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Patrick Corbin (46) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Blue Jays 0 Rays 3
I said in the thread: The thing I like about baseball, is the team can be going bad, the game can be going bad, but there are still just amazing plays to watch.
I have been a Jays fan pretty much since the first series. There have been a lot of bad games. When teams play 162 games a year, even in the best of years, there are a lot of bad games. I’ve always thought that if you can’t handle losses in baseball, this is the wrong sport for you. Even the best teams lose more games that+n football teams will lose in five years
And there were a number of nice plays:
Piñango made a nice catch in the first.
Clement and Sosa made a nice double ply in the third.
Okamoto had a very nice play on a ball right down the left field line.
Straw hit one off the top of the center field wall.
Patrick Corbin pitched quite well.
Nice to see Fisher have a good outing.
But it was a loss.
We had just four hits: Okamoto, Varsho, and Straw (2).
Vlad, Springer, Clement, Schneider and Heineman all look just lost at the plate at the moment
The defense wasn’t as sharp as it needs to be. Clement had a throwing error that ended up costing us a run (Vlad could have saved him the error by making a catch).
Jays of the Day? Well, I’ll give one to Varsho for the pinch hit (0.08 WPA) and it was a nice swing.
Other Award: Piñango (-0.16, he had a really tough time against the lefty Shane McClanahan), Clement (-0.11, plus the error) and Vlad (-0.10). But really, call the game in the starting lineup could get the ‘award’.
Tomorrow’s an off-day, and I can use it. Sometimes too much negative in the GameThread can get to me. As always, if I ask ‘stop’ please stop. Moderating is not all that much fun, it is the part of running this place that I hate.
Friday we start a series with the Angels in Toronto. It can’t possibly be as bad as this one was. Right? Tell me I’m right. We get Dylan Cease (2-1, 3.05) vs. Reid Detmers (1-2, 4.28).
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tejay Antone (70) throws a pitch in the sixth inning of a Cactus League game between the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Ariz. | Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Cincinnati Reds are going bold in their attempts to address their diminished bullpen.
In the wake of last night’s hamstring injury to closer Emilio Pagan, they’re turning to veteran right-hander Tejay Antone to bolster their relief corps. C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic broke the news earlier on Wednesday, noting that Antone – who’s coming off his third Tommy John surgery – will be back in the big leagues 759 days since going under the knife the most recent time.
Sources: Reds are calling up RHP Tejay Antone, 759 days after his third surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament
Antone, 32, has revamped his pitching arsenal and is a much, much different pitcher than he was during his last stint in the big leagues. He used to touch 100 mph with his heater while sporting a ridiculous breaking pitch that earned him the nickname of ‘Captain Hook,’ but even the revamped arsenal has proved quite effective at the AAA level so far in 2026. To date, he’s appeared in 12 games and sports a 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and impressive 15/6 K/BB.
What remains to be seen is what the Reds did to open up a 40-man roster spot for Antone, since he was not on that roster. It could be Emilio Pagan heading straight to the 60-day IL, a move that would clearly signal the severity of his hamstring injury last night. It could be a DFA elsewhere, with catcher PJ Higgins a likely candidate if that’s the way they choose to go.
We’ll have to wait and see how manager Terry Francona chooses to stack his new bullpen with Antone now on the roster and Pagan, their closer, off of it, bt we’ll get that chance tonight in Wrigley Field as the Reds look to shake off back to back walk-off losses amid their 5-game skid.
Welcome back, Tejay!
UPDATE
It appears that moving Brandon Williamson to the 60-day IL is the move that opens up a 40-man roster spot. The Reds made that announcement on Wednesday afternoon, noting that Pierce Johnson has been recalled from the bereavement list and Chase Petty was optioned back to AAA Louisville.
Pagan was placed only on the 15-day IL, which is an encouraging development.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 14: Yerry de los Santos #73 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 14, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees officially optioned Elmer Rodríguez to Triple-A after his start in last night’s game against the Rangers, with Carlos Rodón set to rejoin the rotation in the next week. Since Rodón won’t need to be activated until his start, the Yankees promoted Yerry de Los Santos in the interim.
de Los Santos gives the Yankees an extra arm in the bullpen during this period in which they’ll carry four starters. It’ll be his second trip on the Scranton shuttle this year, having appeared in one game in mid-April, allowing one run in two innings. Though he’s been given the role of Triple-A depth this year, De Los Santos impressed with the big club in 2025, posting a 3.28 ERA in 35.2 innings. He might be ticketed for a short stay this time around, but he should have more chances throughout the year to prove himself at the highest level.
Rodríguez will return to Scranton after an uneven couple of outings in the majors. The 22-year-old right-hander flashed plenty of promise, showcasing a true five-pitch mix and sitting 95-96 mph on his fastballs. However, he also uncharacteristically struggled to find the zone, walking eight batters in 8.2 innings, forcing himself to work constantly with traffic on the base paths. It’s not quite the debut he was looking for, but it’s telling he was the Yankees’ first call when they needed a spot starter. Rodríguez clearly has a lot of promise, and this may not be the last we see of him this year.
Apr 14, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo (22) reacts after being called with a ball during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images | David Frerker-Imagn Images
The Mariners have an opportunity to close up what’s been a fairly miserable homestand with a series win, but whereas Bryan Woo would previously feel like a lock to keep the Mariners in it, he’s coming off back-to-back starts where he’s, in his own words, gotten his “ass kicked.” He’ll try to rally back today against (gulp) the powerful Braves lineup.
Lineups:
Even though the Braves are sending a lefty to the mound today, there’s no Rob Refsnyder in this lineup, as the DH spot is occupied by Cal Raleigh. Refsnyder is apparently dealing with knee stiffness and the team wants to keep him out of the field.
News:
Former Braves owner Ted Turner passed away today, which will certainly be a storyline in today’s game. You can read a writeup on the influence Turner had on the Braves at our sister site Battery Power.
Injury updates:
See above note re: Rob Refsnyder.
In other news: F/OF Brendan Donovan went 1-for-3 with 1 doubles and 2 walks yesterday in the first game of his rehab assignment with Double-A Arkansas. OF Victor Robles played for Triple-A Tacoma in his second rehab start and made three plate appearances with a walk and a strikeout. INF Patrick Wisdom also appeared in yesterday’s game with Triple-A Tacoma on rehab and took two walks. RHP Bryce Miller will start for Everett tonight; in what will hopefully be his last rehab start, he should be cleared to go as deep as five innings and 75-80 pitches, depending on how the game goes.
Roster moves:
The Braves made a roster move today, selecting INF Jim Jarvis to the major league roster and designating OF José Azócar for assignment.
Game information:
Game time: 1:10 PT
TV: Mariners TV, with Aaron Goldsmith and Dave Valle, with Angie Mentink as field reporter
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 01: George Kirby #68 of the Seattle Mariners reacts during the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at T-Mobile Park on April 01, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For much of his Mariner tenure, George Kirby has carried the moniker “Furious George,” a tongue-in-cheek nod to his angry mound persona (his other nickname is “Angry Cheddar”, bestowed by Bryce Miller) and a play on the classic children’s book series about a curious monkey. But the 2026 version of George Kirby is a different animal altogether.
“I want to be a workhorse,” said Kirby after last night’s start, where he turned in seven strong innings against a red-hot Atlanta lineup, giving up just two runs on some bad-luck hits, including a fluky double that rolled down the right-field line at 71 mph off the bat of Mauricio Dubón.
So far, Kirby has been as good as his word: Kirby hit 52 innings pitched last night, good for second in all of MLB behind Yankees ace Max Fried. The three MLB pitchers to have eclipsed 50 innings so far this season are Fried, Kirby, and Miami’s Sandy Alcantara.
Those three pitchers also have something else in common: elite ground ball rates. Both Fried and Alcantara ranked within the top 20 in baseball last year in ground ball rates. Kirby, however, is a newer member of this club. After last night’s start against the Braves, Kirby’s groundball rate is up to 57.6% – fourth-highest in baseball, and second in the AL behind Anaheim’s Jack Kochanowicz.
Last season, maybe in an attempt to chase some more strikeouts and limit hard contact, Kirby dialed down his four-seamer, which he’d gradually been backing off of – he went from throwing it 45% of the time in his debut season to a low of 29% in 2025. In its place, he used his sweeper more heavily, a pitch he threw under 10% of the time in 2022 but compromised 28% of his arsenal by 2025. That tweak had the effect of creating more whiffs for Kirby, but also cost him some of his elite command – pushing him towards a nearly pedestrian walk rate of 5.5%. But the bigger knock-on effect was it cost him some of his efficiency; even accounting for the injury that held him out for part of the season, Kirby only completed seven innings three times, compared to six in 2024 and 11 in 2023.
Kirby says he hasn’t made any tweaks to his arsenal and he’s not exactly sure where all the ground balls are coming from, but he was able to hazard a guess.
“I think that’s just kind of what happens when you try and get strike one,” he said. “You’re in the zone a lot throwing quality strikes. So, the more ground balls, the better. Helps me go deeper in games and eventually get the swing and miss when I need it…As a starter, I want to go as deep in the game as possible and give my team the best chance to win. So if it’s ground balls, great, strikeouts, awesome. If it’s a little bit of both, even better.”
“I’ve always felt like contact can be your friend sometimes,” said manager Dan Wilson. “I think [Kirby] understands…ground ball outs are just as important.”
Maybe the biggest change for Kirby has been mentally. He’s spoken extensively this year about shifting his perspective about having runners on base, trying to let go when a fluky base hit happens (like the Dubón double last night) and refocus on the task at hand, not getting too wrapped up in the results of a prior pitch, especially one he felt he executed well but got poor results on.
“That stuff just doesn’t matter anymore, in the moment. I’m doing a better job of bringing my awareness back to the batter and forgetting about what just happened…I’m trying to just stay in control as much as possible in those moments and try to be the best I can. Not do too much, just go out there and attack and things usually work out.”
It’s something he’s worked on extensively with Mariners mental skills coach Adam Bernero, who has helped Kirby understand how to channel the emotion he feels on the mound in more productive ways and learn to let go of emotions that don’t serve him. Anger can be a motivating force; it can also, in excess, be toxic.
“Maybe, as a reliever, you can go full caveman,” said Bernero. “As a starter, that’s hard. You have to pick your spots.”
“Emotion can be a funny thing,” said Dan Wilson. “Emotion can be a great motivator, but when you let the emotion last too long, it can become a negative drag.”
“Sometimes you need a little bit of extra something, emotion, to kind of get you going. But for the most part I think George has done a really nice job of staying focused, staying right where he needs to be. And that’s been a huge step forward for him, and one that’s really paid dividends for him in helping him get deeper…And I think he’s done a great job of it and has been able to move on from things. We’ve seen it in different situations, whether it was reversed calls or reversed challenges, whatever happened. He’s able to bounce back and keep going. And I think that shows real maturity.”
Crowds tend to get hyped up around strikeouts; it’s a little harder to get them humming about a routine 4-3 putout. Efficiency is not sexy to the average baseball fan. But it’s something Kirby is learning to embrace.
“I think that’s what you should want to go do when you get out there, just go as long as you can,” he said. “I think that’s what matters the most. Like, the strikeouts are cool, the crowd – whatever. But the longer you stay out there, you’re doing your job. You’re doing your job for the bullpen, for the guys behind you. So that’s my focus.”
So in taking this more long-term view, has he let go of some of the persona of “furious George”?
“Oh no, it’s still in there,” he said after his last home outing against Texas. “I walked two guys today, I’m not very happy about it. But I’m using it in a different way. Use the anger as a weapon instead of something that would hold me back the last couple years. Use it more as fuel. It’s been feeling a lot better. You just gather your breath, just take a couple fast, quick exhales, get yourself going, get your body right for the moment you’re in. The more I can use anger to my favor, the better.”
It’s hard to stay furious for long. Anger is literally exhausting: it spikes adrenaline and cortisol levels and stresses your cardiovascular system. While one can manage its spikes, it’s not a sustainable emotion for the hours it takes to pitch deep into a baseball game. Furious George will still make an occasional appearance, but he’s being replaced by Steady Hand George, the workhorse.
“He was very efficient yesterday,” said manager Dan Wilson. “Workhorses find a way to be efficient and find a way to get deep into the game, and that’s what George did yesterday.”
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 06: Tyler Glasnow #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on May 06, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tyler Glasnow left his start on Wednesday afternoon against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park after only one inning, with the Dodgers right-hander suffering lower back pain per an announcement from the team.
Glasnow was warming up for the second inning when he felt something, and was quickly joined on the mound by catcher Dalton Rushing, manager Dave Roberts, head athletic trainer Thomas Albert and the entire infield. After a bit of deliberation, Glasnow walked off the field and into the clubhouse.
Left-hander Jack Dreyer replaced Glasnow on the mound and pitched two scoreless innings to start a scramble of six pitchers who recorded the final 24 outs of Wednesday’s win.
Tyler Glasnow said he had a back spasm while warming up in the second. Something he said he typically deals with a couple times a year
He’s hopeful it’s “not too serious” — but said he’ll need to see how it feels over next couple days to know if he’ll be ready for next start
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 05: Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after hitting a solo home run during the ninth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 05, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves will look to improve to 6-0 in rubber matches and stay unbeaten in series with Wednesday afternoon’s 4:10 p.m. EDT series finale against the Seattle Mariners.
Martín Pérez will be tasked with making another start after he wasn’t used in the bullpen Tuesday night. Jim Jarvis, called up this morning, will make his major league debut at shortstop to give Jorge Mateo a day off.
Let’s baseball one more time before a high-stakes series this weekend against the Dodgers.
The Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association is proud to announce 
