Category: Baseball

We’re reaching an inflection point in the minor league calendar. None of the four full-season affiliates is going to play until Friday in a pseudo All-Star Break (remember when the minors used to have All-Star games?). The trade deadline is 2.5 weeks away. It won’t be long until several of these names are in different organizations. Replacing them will be a new crop of talent that includes 13 hitters in the 2026 draft class. Those who survive will likely be promoted to make room for them in A-ball.

This week, we saw a high-profile promotion, a high-profile rehab assignment, and some great individual performances across the system.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

Record: 11-6 (48-43), 2.5 GB in the International League East after a 4-2 week against the Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays)

Run differential: +36 (+39)

Coming up: Home vs. Worcester Red Sox (Red Sox)

The RailRiders opened their week with an utter evisceration of the Bisons over the first three games, outscoring them 32-5 through Friday. Getting swept in a Saturday doubleheader took a little bit of steam out of them, but they outlasted Buffalo in an extra-inning affair on Sunday to secure the series win.

With George Lombard Jr. still sidelined this week, the offense got a needed jolt from guys who’ve spent extended stretches on the big league roster and were pushed down due to roster shakeups. Spencer Jones (7-for-22, HR, 2 RBI, 3 XBH, 4 BB) and J.C. Escarra (8-for-26, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 2B) have raked since their demotions, and when you combine their performance with the clutch hitting of guys like Jonathan Ornelas and Ernesto Martinez Jr., you suddenly get a good offense. Shoutout to Tyler Hardman, who’s quickly getting himself on a major league radar in his first Triple-A stint.

I get the feel that Tyler Hardman will most likely be with a different organization come the end of July and will most likely be called up to get every day 1B reps when he is. I think dating back to the beginning of June, he's made a lot of really impressive improvements in his… pic.twitter.com/8YLySgPmPl

— Yankees Stats (@ChrisCoop_) July 13, 2026

The rotation is mostly whole again this week, but with a twist. The team appears to be switching around the likes of Dom Hamel, Alexander Cornielle, and Adam Kloffenstein on and off the Development List to get around the roster limit. The three prospects (Elmer Rodríguez, Brendan Beck, Kyle Carr) made another turn, and while the latter struggled on Saturday, the former two both got wins in solid, five-inning outings.

In the bullpen, the shuttle keeps moving. Yerry De los Santos and Yovanny Cruz have continued to produce as they wait their turn; Kervin Castro and Eric Reyzelman had positive weeks, and Double-A call-ups Chris Kean and Will Brian had scoreless outings. Bradley Hanner has arguably been the team’s best reliever, but he’s likely to exercise an opt-out and hit free agency this week.

Players of Note:

George Lombard Jr.: .231/.381/.385, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 16 XBH, 8 SB, 109 wRC+ (on rehab)
Spencer Jones: .275/.384/.567, 14 HR, 50 RBI, 10 SB, 31.0 K%, 143 wRC+
Tyler Hardman: .276/.369/.506, 9 HR, 26 RBI, 18 XBH, 126 wRC+
Brendan Beck: 7-2, 3.09 ERA, 3.73 FIP, 1.04 WHIP, 17.3 K-BB% (93 IP)
Elmer Rodríguez: 5-3, 2.85 ERA, 4.17 FIP, 1.30 WHIP, 11.9 K-BB% (66.1 IP)

Double-A Somerset Patriots

Record: 7-11 (44-43), 4 GB in the Eastern League Northeast after a 2-4 week against the Reading Fightin’ Phils (Phillies)

Run differential: -6 (+30)

Coming up: Away @ Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox)

Somerset’s downturn over the last several weeks continued this week against Reading, with the team picking up wins only on Wednesday and Friday. In three of their four losses, they failed to score three runs.

The offense is still not having a fun time. Outside of the perennially raking Jace Avina, not many guys are stepping up. It doesn’t help that former Mexican League MVP Nick Torres was granted his release mid-week. The one guy who’s really emerged over the past few weeks has been an unexpected name in the 2025 draft: Connor McGinnis. The former 10th-round pick is slashing .390/.419/.683 with seven extra-base hits in the first half of July.

In the rotation, Xavier Rivas was tasked with the bookend starts and did terrific (more on him later). Jack Cebert had a so-so start to complete an inconsistent first half, Chase Hampton got roughed up on Thursday, Ben Hess went five innings in his longest outing since April, and Cade Smith allowed three runs with seven strikeouts in a choppy outing. This unit has a lot of potential, but there’s been a lot of inconsistency.

In the arm barn, Harrison Cohen got roughed up this week, but the stars continued to shine with Hayden Merda and Ben Grable (who got a brief cameo at the Futures Game), while guys like Tony Rossi and Geoffrey Gilbert are rounding into form after a promotion and an injury, respectively. Keep an eye on Kelly Austin, who’s had an inconsistent season but has good strikeout numbers.

Players of Note:

Jace Avina: .269/.357/.535, 17 HR, 48 RBI, 37 XBH, 28.0 K%, 135 wRC+
Jackson Castillo: .258/.345/.397, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 8 SB, 104 wRC+
Coby Morales: .273/.352/.490, 15 HR, 63 RBI, 12 SB, 124 wRC+
Xavier Rivas: 4-4, 4.20 ERA, 4.58 FIP, 1.15 WHIP, 23.4 K-BB% (64.1 IP)
Ben Grable (A+/AA): 3-1, 2.61 ERA, 1.99 FIP, 0.77 WHIP, 32.0 K-BB% (31 IP)

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades

Record: 11-10 (42-44), 2 GB in the South Atlantic League North Second Half after a 4-2 week against the Rome Emperors (Braves)

Run differential: +19 (+28)

Coming up: Away @ Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets)

The Renegades rode great pitching to start the week, allowing just two runs in each of the first three games to sweep the first three, but they only managed to win one of the final three in what was overall a successful week at home against the visiting Emperors.

Kaeden Kent popped up on the injured list on Tuesday, suddenly taking Hudson Valley’s consistent leadoff bat out of the lineup. With him out, the weight of the lineup falls on Core Jackson and Wilson Rodriguez, but a pair of other red-hot bats are definitely pulling their own weight. Eric Genther (5-for-18, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 BB) was a big-time bat this week, and former top prospect Roderick Arias has been incredible all summer after a horrendous start.

Roderick Arias last 28 games

.380/.418/.704 (1.122 OPS), 9 HR, 24.6 K%

Man… https://t.co/APVZyKHSZq

— . (@HalToHell) July 10, 2026

The rotation welcomed fast-rising prospect Henry Lalane, who earned a mid-week promotion, to a group with an underrated amount of prospect value. Lalane allowed two runs in 4.2 innings with eight strikeouts in a game the bullpen blew. Bryce Cunningham struggled with command in four innings, Allen Facundo had a very similar outing to Lalane with eight strikeouts, Rory Fox struck out nine in another strong outing, Franyer Herrera tossed five solid frames, and Luis Serna was the star of the show. The Mexico native struck out 10 in seven strong innings on Wednesday.

The bullpen started strong in the first half of the week, but it got smoked on Friday and Sunday. The latter was more of Sean Paul Liñan as a piggyback, but Andrew Landry and Bryce Warrecker licked their wounds after an ugly loss on Friday. Thomas Balboni Jr., Wilmy Sanchez, and Kevin Stevens had the best weeks.

Players of Note:

Kaeden Kent: .302/.359/.433, 6 HR, 43 RBI, 28 XBH, 20 SB, 107 wRC+ (injured)
Core Jackson: .250/.358/.456, 11 HR, 40 RBI, 27 SB, 112 wRC+
Wilson Rodriguez: .261/.381/.430, 8 HR, 43 RBI, 20 SB, 115 wRC+
Luis Serna: 4-4, 4.04 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 1.17 WHIP, 17.6 K-BB% (78 IP)
Bryce Cunningham: 2-4, 4.21 ERA, 5.24 FIP, 1.32 WHIP, 4.3 K-BB% (47 IP)

Single-A Tampa Tarpons

Record: 15-6 (46-35), 4 GA in the Florida State League West after a 4-2 week against the Clearwater Threshers (Phillies)

Run differential: +29 (+52)

Coming up: Home vs. Bradenton Marauders (Pirates)

The Tarpons continue to be the gold standard in the Yankees’ system with the most well-balanced roster from top to bottom. They’ve also benefitted from not many promotions disrupting their vibes, but that could change as the new draftees arrive and the FCL season ends soon. They lost two of their first three games, but swept a Saturday doubleheader and won via shutout on Sunday.

The offense stayed consistent with Jackson Lovich continuing to rake while the Monteros, Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek, and JoJo Jackson all complemented him in the lineup. Luis Puello has cooled off of late, and they’re not getting much from Engelth Urena and Brando Mayea, but they remain the third-best offense in the entire Florida State League.

Justin West opened the week with six shutout innings as he continued a strong recent stretch, Thatcher Hurd went another five solid innings, Wyatt Parliament had a bounce-back start with five one-run innings, JT Etheridge tossed four shutout innings, and Tyler Boudreau went six strong innings. Sabier Marte was called up for his Single-A debut on Saturday and got shelled, while the team placed Brennan Stuprich on the injured list.

It was opposite day for the bullpen. Their three best relievers in the first half were probably Pedro Rodriguez, Jose M. Rodriguez, and Jose Martinez, but all three got shelled this week. Meanwhile, long-struggling pitchers Jose Ledesma and Jordarlin Mendoza did great. Brian Hendry also pitched an inning, and I openly wonder if he’s transitioning to a reliever to expedite his trip up the minor leagues.

Players of Note:

Jackson Lovich: .289/.360/.532, 14 HR, 52 RBI, 30 XBH, 20 SB, 132 wRC+
Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: .258/.374/.411, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 25 SB, 114 wRC+
Hans Montero: .242/.366/.426, 8 HR, 40 RBI, 27 XBH, 21 SB, 114 wRC+
Tyler Boudreau: 5-2, 3.16 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 1.05 WHIP, 18.9 K-BB% (74 IP)
Thatcher Hurd: 1-3, 4.34 ERA, 5.09 FIP, 1.14 WHIP, 18.7 K-BB% (29 IP)

FCL Yankees

Record: 27-25, 7.5 GB in the FCL North after a 4-1 week.

Run differential: +11

The season is just about over for the FCL Yanks. There are only eight games left, and they trail the FCL Orioles by 4.5 games for the final wild card spot. They got off to a nice start on an unlikely climb this week with four wins, but there’s a long way to go.

The most prolific home run hitting team in rookie ball has a lot of names to talk about, but there’s one big storyline to watch in the final week and a half. Wilberson De Pena has tied the all-time FCL record in home runs with 15 and is three off from the all-time rookie ball record of 18. Can he get there?

The other big news was the return of George Lombard Jr. in a rehab assignment on Monday afternoon in the backfields of the FCL Phillies’ complex in Florida. Of course, he blasted a 106-mph homer in his first at-bat since spraining two of his fingers in June.

🚨George Lombard Jr CRUSHES 2nd pitch of his rehab for a solo shot!

106 MPH EV
397 Ft#RepBx#Yankeespic.twitter.com/K3hi9BcHKt

— YankeesFarm (@YankeesFarm) July 13, 2026

The two most notable pitchers on the staff got promoted to Tampa, including stellar Tennessee UDFA reliever Austin Breedlove. The new names to watch? Edinzo Marquez, Enixon Sanchez, Jerson Alejandro, and Danny Flatt.

Players of Note:

Wilberson De Pena: .342/.399/.663, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 31 XBH, 18 SB, 148 wRC+
Jose Castro: .297/.492/.538, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 25 SB, 158 wRC+
Richard Matic: .309/.427/.481, 20 XBH, 27 RBI, 14 SB, 126 wRC+
Sabier Marte: 34.1 IP, 5.77 ERA, 4.85 FIP, 1.46 WHIP, 16.3 K-BB%
Austin Breedlove: 21 IP, 1.71 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 1.14 WHIP, 18.0 K-BB%

DSL Yankees & Bombers

DSL Yankees:
Record: 19-10, 1 GA in DSL East after a 4-0 week
Run differential: +107

DSL Bombers:
Record: 13-18, 7.5 GB in DSL Southeast after a 2-3 week
Run differential: -25

The DSL Yankees are the best team at that level. They’ve finally taken the lead in the DSL East division and their offense is right at the center. They’re averaging over 10 runs a game with a team OPS of .954, buoyed by a Big Three of Isaias Castillo, Juan Torres, and Stiven Marinez. They even got the best DSL pitcher in the system, as Fredy Penuelas has a sub-1 ERA in 30 innings.

The DSL Bombers are down in the doldrums. Their average game sees them commit three errors, score a bunch of runs on 10+ walks, and lose via pitching implosion. So it goes.

Players of Note:

Isaias Castillo: .330/.444/.699, 8 HR, 27 RBI, 20 XBH, 10 SB, 159 wRC+ (124 PA)
Juan Torres: .373/.436/.686, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 20 XBH, 11 SB, 151 wRC+ (117 PA)
Stiven Marinez: .289/.420/.567, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 18 SB, 145 wRC+ (119 PA)
Fredy Penuelas: 20.1 IP, 0.44 ERA, 2.68 FIP, 1.03 WHIP, 26.8 K-BB%
Yunior Jerez: 20.2 IP, 3.05 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 0.87 WHIP, 17.7 K-BB%

Prospect of the Week: Xavier Rivas

Weekly Stats: 12 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 16 K
Season Stats: 4-4, 4.20 ERA, 4.58 FIP, 1.15 WHIP, 23.4 K-BB% (64.1 IP)

Rivas made the rare two-start week, tossing a quality start on both Tuesday and Sunday. It’s rare that a lineup does worse the more they see a pitcher in quick succession, but Rivas managed to do that to Reading this week. He started with a basic six-inning, two-run showing on Tuesday:

But his masterpiece was on Sunday, where the former 16th-round pick out of Ole Miss tossed six no-hit innings with 10 strikeouts to close the week. Unfortunately, his bullpen not only soiled the no-no, but the shutout and the win.

Since a disastrous 11-run outing in late May, Rivas has a 1.41 ERA across 32.2 innings with 46 strikeouts to 13 walks. He’s slowly turned into a real starter after being reduced to a piggyback or four-inning starter to start the season, and that could mean his stock is up both internally and externally.

After the Jays won the 1992 World Series, Cito Gaston was named manager of the American League team for the 1993 All-Star Game. Three Jays—Joe Carter, John Olerud, and Roberto Alomar—were selected as starters by fan vote, a testament to the enthusiasm of Blue Jays fans. Cito further demonstrated his loyalty by adding four more Jays to the roster: Paul Molitor, Devon White, Pat Hentgen, and Duane Ward. This move didn’t sit well with fans of other teams, but Cito has always stood by his players.

The game took place at the new and impressive Camden Yards in Baltimore. The Orioles had a strong team that year. Cal Ripken was selected by the fans, and Cito also included Mike Mussina on the roster. In hindsight, knowing how events would unfold, Cito might have chosen someone else for that spot.

I got to ask Pat Hentgen about that game and not getting to pitch, and he said this:

Yeah, that was when Cito called us into the office prior to the All-Star game and said, ‘Hey listen, you guys are young; I’ve got some other veteran guys that made the All-Star team, I’m going to pitch them and save you for backup in case we go extra innings. So you basically are not going to pitch. The way I see it, you are young, and you’ll be back another one. I remember walking out of his office thinking, ” Darn, I can’t believe he is thinking that.” But he was right. At that time, did I think I’d make another one? I wasn’t so sure; I didn’t know. You have many doubts as a professional athlete. Not everyone is super super confident. He was right, I made another one and pitched in 94 and 97. That 93 one was a great experience.

Now Pat uses the term ‘we’, which, though he doesn’t say it, suggests to me that Mike Mussina got the same talk. Mussina was in his second full season in the majors. Cito always preferred veteran players. Hentgen was disappointed to be told that he wasn’t likely to play in the game. Mussina would have the additional disappointment of not playing in the game in front of his hometown fans, though he had played in the 1992 All-Star Game. What are the chances of him getting into another All-Star game at his home field?

The game didn’t go into extra innings, and neither Hentgen nor Mussina were used. In Pat’s case, it was barely noticed. In Mussina’s?

Baltimore fans understandably wanted to see their pitcher take the mound. What’s harder to grasp is Mussina’s decision to warm up in the bullpen during the ninth inning without being asked by Cito. By doing so, he turned the crowd against Cito—and it worked. It was a questionable move. Cito’s response:

“By standing up, he (Mussina) showed me he’s a person with little class. Screw him. I just won’t take him next year”.

Cito didn’t follow through on his threat; he took Mussina to the 1994 All-Star Game and used him. Still, Oriole fans have never forgiven Cito, and the tension between him and Mussina lingered. Fans continued to wear ‘Cito Sucks’ T-shirts, and Cito even received death threats when the team visited Baltimore. Not exactly a proud chapter for anyone involved.

So, who was at fault? Honestly, both were. Cito should have put Mussina in—it was his home crowd, and All-Star Games are supposed to be for the fans. Cito wanted to save Mussina in case of extra innings, but with the AL leading 9-3 in the ninth, that was unlikely. I think Cito should have let Mussina pitch.

But Mussina wasn’t blameless either—his actions put Cito in a tough spot. Maybe youth was his excuse, but it wasn’t the right way to handle things. Once Mussina started warming up on his own, there was no way Cito would be pressured into using him. Mussina’s best approach would have been to ask his own manager, Johnny Oates (who was coaching on the AL staff), to speak to Cito. That might have worked—Cito is a reasonable guy.

In the end, the situation couldn’t have played out much worse. Mussina didn’t help matters after the game, saying:

“It was the biggest ovation I ever got for never being in a game,” Mussina said. “I knew I wasn’t going to get into the game. There was nothing said. They [the fans] all wanted to see me pitch. They’re die-hard Baltimore fans. They waited 35 years for this game.”

Oriole GM Frank Robinson had the proper response:

“I’m disappointed in the fan reaction. I don’t think it’s right,” said Robinson, who played in 11 All-Star Games and was honorary co-captain of this year’s AL team. “I’d like to have seen Mussina get in. But there was no reason for that. It’s an All-Star Game, an exhibition.

I don’t think anyone came out of this looking good.

How did the Jay players do in the game?

Roberto Alomar: Started the game, hitting leadoff. He went 1 for 3 with a solo home run in the 3rd off Andy Benes.

Paul Molitor: Started the game, batting second. He went 0 for 1 with a walk.

Joe Carter: Started the game, hitting cleanup. He went 1 for 3 with a strikeout.

John Olerud: Started the game, hitting 5th. He went 0 for 2.

Devon White: Replaced Ken Griffey in the top of the 6th. He went 1 for 2, with a double, run, RBI and stolen base.

Duane Ward: Pitched the 9th (yeah, while Mussina threw in the bullpen). He got 3 quick outs, 2 strikeouts and a ground out.

The lone Oriole to play, Cal Ripken, went 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

With the All-Star Break here, much of the baseball world has a bit of time away from the diamond. However, there are still some games going on in the minors. And for the Braves, that meant the return to action for Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ha-Seong Kim.

Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ha-Seong Kim today begin rehabilitation assignments with the FCL Braves.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 13, 2026

Both Kim and Acuna Jr. had multiple at-bats on the day, and Kim hit a home run in his first plate appearance. While the results will hopefully come for Acuna Jr., it was just great to have him back in action. His return should be a big boost for a Braves team looking to make winning a habit once again.

Braves News

Ozzie Albies will be batting sixth and Drake Baldwin ninth in the NL All-Star starting lineup.

Tate Southisene had a good weekend at the plate.

Here is a full recap of the Braves 2026 Draft Class.

MLB News

Jordan Walker and many other sluggers created a memorable Home Run Derby on Monday night.

Number 1 overall pick Roch Cholowsky signed with the White Sox.

Five Dodgers are in Philadelphia for the All-Star game on Tuesday, two of them first timers in Andy Pages and Justin Wrobleski.

Sonja Chen of MLB.com covers why it should be Pages’ second All-Star nod.

“It should be his second. I think he should have had it last year,” said Freddie Freeman, who will be in the NL’s starting lineup alongside Pages at his 10th All-Star Game. “Andy has been great for a couple years now. So I’m glad he’s getting the recognition. I’m glad the fans are gonna get to see him in Philadelphia.”

Last year, the Dodgers centerfielder was one of three finalists for the fan vote to make the Midsummer Classic. He was not chosen by the fans, nor was he added as a replacement. Did that give him motivation to make it this season?

“I think it did affect me,” Pages said through interpreter Juan Dorado. “But obviously, coming into this year I’m trying to focus on the things that I can control, the things that I need to do, and kind of learn from what happened last year and put myself in a better spot this year.”

Andy didn’t talk much about it, but focused on being better and getting to the All-Star team, in addition to being better overall for the team. While he’s had his ups and downs, he’s proud of the work he’s put in that has resulted in him being the starting centerfielder for the National League.

“This is one of those things that … you feel proud of all the work you’ve done,” Pages said in Spanish. “It’s doing those little things that you think can make you better, keeping working and trying to do the best every day.”

Max Muncy is on his third All-Star team, but it’s been five years since his last appearance, and he’s had to work through some significant injuries in the meantime.

“It’s coming back from injuries, finding ways to stay healthy – regaining form I guess you’d call it,” Muncy said. “Just getting back to the player that I had been for several years before I started getting hurt. For me, it’s just a recognition of that.”

This time around, Muncy is very much looking forward to the family aspect of it, and for his kids to experience this with their dad.

Over the offseason, Muncy put a lot of effort into making sure his body was in the best shape for this season, knowing that being the Dodgers’ third baseman was his only path to staying on the team which whom he hopes to retire.

“The reality of the situation was if I want to continue being a Dodger I had to learn to play third base. There really is no ifs ands or butts about that. I had to get better.”

His offseason work has paid off, as Muncy leads all NL third basemen in slugging and OPS, and is tied for second in home runs with 17. He’s ranked third among third basemen in defensive runs saved, even with his two errors in his last two games.

“For me, it was never about getting the money. It was always about getting the opportunity to win,” he said. “That was the thing for me. If I’m going to play this game that I love, the reason I love it is because I love to compete, I want to be in the best spot to compete to win and there’s no better spot than here. That was always the deciding factor in those decisions. That’s why it’s always been a no-brainer for me. The money didn’t really matter. It’s the chance to compete and win and I get that every day here.

Bill Plunkett of the OC Register covers more of Muncy and manager Dave Roberts’ thoughts on his season and what he means to the team here.

Jac Caglianone was bounced in the first round of the Home Run Derby last night, but not before he unleashed some truly magnificent homers.

Caglianone belted eight home runs in the first round of the annual tournament. He got off to a slow start before settling in with some mammoth homers.

In his session, Caglianone blasted homers well into the third deck at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also hit a baseball over the batter’s eye in center field before bowing out after 20 swings.

However, Caglianone wouldn’t move forward. He was not one of the final four participants after Willson Contreras (13 homers), Jordan Walker (13), Junior Caminero (12) and Kyle Schwarber (10) advanced in the competition.

Matthew Leach at MLB dot com also covered Caglianone’s performance in the Derby.

Caglianone finished tied for sixth among the eight contenders with eight home runs, and only the top four advanced. While CBP doesn’t have a reputation as being especially friendly or unfriendly to right- or left-handed hitters, it certainly seemed the righties had the most fun in the first round. All three right-handed hitters — Willson Contreras, Jordan Walker and Junior Caminero — launched at least 12 homers, placing first, second and third in the opening round. Meanwhile none of the five lefties — Kyle Schwarber, Ben Rice, Caglianone, Bryce Harper and Munetaka Murakami — tallied more 10, and among them, only Schwarber advanced to the second round.

The Royals slugger found himself in fourth after four batters, but withstood a challenge from Rice. However, when Caminero hit his ninth on the way to 12 total, Caglianone was eliminated.

Ultimately, Jordan Walker prevailed in the Derby on a thrilling walk-off finish against Philly favorite Kyle Schwarber.

After Schwarber clubbed 11 homers to send the crowd into a frenzy, Walker found himself sitting on eight with one swing left in the finals. Batters who end on a homer are allowed unlimited swings after that until a ball doesn’t go over the fence, and Walker took full advantage, hitting four in a row to upend Schwarber.

In doing so, he became the first Cardinals player to win the Derby.

Pete Grathoff talked to the Caglianones about Jac’s father, Jeff, throwing to Jac in the Derby.

No matter the outcome Monday night, Caglianone will be a winner because of who will be throwing to him: Jeff Caglianone, his dad. Father and son practiced on the Camden Yards field on Sunday, a day later than planned. They hoped to do it Saturday but were rained out. So they worked in the cages and began forming a plan.

“It’s funny. We talked about that yesterday,” Jeff Caglianone said Sunday. “He was looking (for pitches) a little bit up and in, and then I was throwing him some pitches down, and he was hammering them. As long as he gets a barrel to it, we’ll be OK.”

The Caglianones have Home Run Derby history, as dad pitched to his son at the 2024 Arizona Fall league event.

David Lesky ruminates on the first half of the season.

There has absolutely been some good. We’ve seen some of those young hitters have big moments. We’ve seen great moments like Stephen Kolek’s complete game, the crazy game against the Phillies, the walkoff against the Angels and others. But this was supposed to be a year to compete for the division title, not be the worst team in baseball. The Rockies are a half-game better! Some of it is injuries. The start was just bad baseball. Cole Ragans, Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez and the bullpen in general just weren’t good enough. But as I’ve said, the injuries piled up, and they couldn’t really overcome that brutal start. The 40-48 first half of 1986 might be more disappointing than this, only because they were coming off the title, but even so, this is pretty close.

Mike Gillespie at Royals Keep raises three questions the Royals should think about during the break.

The White Sox are going to sign number one overall pick Roch Cholowsky to a big deal, apparently a record bonus.

We got some more contract details on JJ Wetherholt’s deal with the Cardinals.

Luis Arraez wants to stay at second base if he is traded.

The Athletics fired their pitching coach.

FanGraphs is kicking off their annual replacement-level killers series, which identifies the worst-performing positions on contenders.

ESPN’s annual best player rankings for the NFL are out, and Patrick Mahomes is not the number one QB.

Supposedly a FIFA official acted alone in overturning Folorin Balogun’s red card in the World Cup (mmhmm, sure).

Senegal fired their men’s national team coach and the whole technical staff in the wake of the collapse against Belgium.

Actor Sam Neill, who starred in Jurassic Park and The Piano among many other movies, died yesterday.

Your song of the day is She’s In A Frenzy by Jack White from his new album Frozen Charlotte.

As a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan, I haven’t felt this way in years. Monday night’s MLB Home Run Derby reminded me of the romance and sheer delirious joy that this sport can give us. That’s why I’m convinced that Jordan Walker’s Home Run Derby victory will rank among the best moments in St. Louis Cardinals history.

You never know how a player will respond to moments on a national stage. When I learned that Jordan Walker was going to be a part of the Home Run Derby, I had several hot takes. First, what a great opportunity for Jordan. Good for him. Second, he’ll surely have nerves since this is his first All-Star game experience and first Home Run Derby. As the night started, the first thing that struck me was how relaxed Jordan Walker appeared. He said in interviews that he was nervous, but everything about him just projected calm, cool and collected.

As the Derby began, Willson Contreras launched an impressive 13 home runs in 20 swings. Jordan Walker then calmly matched him with a smooth, easy swing that carried him into the semi-finals.

Prior to the Home Run Derby, many prognosticators predicted that Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays would win it. He was Jordan’s competition in the semi-finals and not only did Walker defeat him, but he did it with 7 swings not needed. Jordan seemed like a man with ice in his veins.

As the final round began, I was overwhelmed with how proud Cardinals fans should be of what Jordan Walker achieved. Making it to the finals in his first All-Star game, his first Home Run Derby…that’s such an accomplishment. Surely he won’t win this thing, will he? After Kyle Schwarber hammered 11 home runs in 15 swings, I (and thousands of fans in the stands in Philly) thought it was over. The one person who didn’t believe that? Jordan Walker. Even after he only had 8 home runs with 1 swing remaining, he appeared at ease. Smooth swings…4 in a row as he took advantage of bonus swings on his last ball sailed into the night as the fans in Philadelphia watched in a stunned silence.

As Jordan’s 12th finals home run flew deep into the left field stands, I screamed, fist in the air like I haven’t done in years. The last time it happened? Albert’s 700th home run in 2022. World Series games 6 and 7 in 2011. Before that, it was the World Series clincher against Detroit in 2006. I was also reminded of that night in September in 1998 when Mark McGwire’s 62nd home run barely cleared the left field wall in the old Busch Stadium. Same emotions that night that I feel right now. I’m elated. Blown away by how Jordan Walker rose to the occasion and faced a fierce Philly crowd and hoisted a trophy that he wasn’t supposed to get and then maintain his humbleness as the MLB world started reacting to this huge upset.

Major League Baseball needs more of what happened Monday night in Philadelphia. St. Louis Cardinals fans need more of what happened Monday night in Philadelphia. A reminder of the romance of a baseball upset that shouldn’t be possible from a small market player who is what he is because of the strong family that stood behind him when the rest of us doubted him. Thank you, Jordan Walker and family. I felt like I was 10-years-old again thanks to what you accomplished. You will now forever be a part of some of my favorite St. Louis Cardinals memories ever and with the rich history of this team, that’s saying something.

Today’s Reflections

*The Bregman Weekend*

I don’t like to name games, and this probably won’t catch on, but it was a Big Weekend for Alex Bregman. There were articles talking about him going into a deep dive during the All-Star break to fix all that is broken just a few days ago. It turns out that I wish the break wasn’t happening just as Bregman is starting to work out of his slump. But maybe instead of having the pressure of fixing everything, Bregman can fine tune what he just found out about his game.

Seemingly hidden behind Bregman’s Weekend was the performance of Michael Busch. He went 5-for-8 with three doubles, two runs scored and an RBI. If Busch keeps this up after the break, this is another possible breakout for this season.

PCA was only 1-for-6 in the two games, but he worked the pitchers for four walks and scored two runs.

And hopefully Kevin Alcantara getting the bat on the ball for a seeing-eye two-RBI single will give him some confidence in future games.

Javier Assad and Matthew Boyd did not perform stunningly well, but their performances were solid and kept the Cubs in both games for a pair of seventh-inning rallies to win. Assad did give up a pair of solo home runs, but he stranded the other five hits, struck out four and did not issue a walk. Boyd’s game wasn’t as solid with a four-run third inning by the Reds, but Boyd importantly pitched into the seventh inning, having allowed two hits and a walk in the other 5.1 innings that he pitched.

Also, the bullpen held together in both games, allowing one run in 6.2 innings pitched. And the Cubs won the series.

I’m ready for the second half.

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Sunday’s Game Story:

• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Alex Bregman’s homers sign of big second half for Cubs’ third baseman? ‘There’s some good stuff coming’ “Bregman came up with clutch home runs in each of the final two games of the first half, showing the Cubs might have been right in projecting a big turnaround for their big free-agent addition.”

• Sean Holland (Cubs Insider): Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (7/12/26): Cubs 8, Reds 4 – Bregman Goes Deep Again in W. “The road team got some more production out of their third baseman, who suddenly got right, to take the series.”

• Mike Petraglia (MLB.com): Bregman starting to heat up as Cubs finish 1st half on strong note. “On Sunday, they did it again, rallying for their 27th comeback win, led by one of their leaders they’ll be leaning on in the second half.”

Saturday’s Game Story:

• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune {$}): Alex Bregman hits tiebreaking home run and bullpen delivers in Chicago Cubs’ 5-3 win over Cincinnati Reds, “Chicago Cubs fans have been waiting on Alex Bregman to deliver for the entire first half.”

• Sean Holland (Cubs Insider): Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (7/11/26): Cubs 5, Reds 3 – Bregman Blast Keys W. “The Cubs needed to bounce back from a shutout loss to the Reds on Friday night, and they got it done.”

Mid-Season PCA-Mania:

• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): How a renewed approach in the box led to PCA’s second All-Star nod. “When the Cubs returned home for the next homestand, Alex Bregman pulled the Cubs center fielder aside and offered some veteran insight, using that moment against Iglesias as an example.”
• Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Pete Crow-Armstrong Already Ranks Shockingly High in Power and Speed in Cubs History. “He’s got the power, he’s got the speed / to be the MVP of the National League.” (Nice homage to “Go, Cubs, Go!”)
• Casey McAleer (Da Windy City): Pete Crow-Armstrong perfectly summed up why Cubs fans should believe in this team. “Chicago battled injuries, inconsistency, and adversity throughout the first half, and PCA believes that experience has only strengthened the clubhouse.”
• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): At close of first half, Cubs amazed, if not surprised, by Pete Crow-Armstrong: ‘He’s the total package’. “The All-Star center fielder might just be baseball’s best player at the break. His Cubs teammates are, like you, wowed by what he does on the field. Just don’t think for a second that they’re surprised.”

Trade and Draft Talk:

• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Cubs reach All-Star break in good shape, but more pitching needed at trade deadline. “”There’s opportunity there,” manager Craig Counsell said.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): After ‘up-and-down’ 1st half, Cubs begin ‘really important stretch’ to start 2nd half. “The next few weeks are especially important with the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline offering a chance to bolster the roster.”
• Tommy Erbe (OnTapSportsNet): The Fate Of The 2026 Chicago Cubs Is In Jed Hoyer’s Hands. “What are the Cubs’ trade deadline plans? Only Jed Hoyer knows, and what he does is going to determine how far this team goes.”
• Eddie Lennon (LastWordOnSports): 3 Perfect Trade Destinations for Aroldis Chapman at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline. “Aroldis Chapman has become one of the most coveted names on the market.”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Cubs trade deadline targets should include Mariners arm who suddenly has returned to form. “Jed Hoyer will explore every possible opportunity to upgrade the Cubs’ pitching staff.”
• Brandon Glick (Cubbies Crib): Astros have ideal Cubs trade deadline target hiding behind Josh Hader speculation. “A controllable reliever is exactly what this bullpen needs.”
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): 3 takeaways from Chicago Cubs’ MLB draft haul, including lots of pitching and a heavy college investment. “The investment in Mississippi right-hander Cade Townsend with the No. 23 pick paved the way for the Chicago Cubs to hone in on pitching — they drafted 16 total.”
• Jason Ross (North Side Baseball): Recapping Chicago Cubs’ 2026 Draft Class: A Big Bet on Tyler Zombro. “The Cubs selected 21 names in the 2026 MLB Draft, and most should sign. What should we make of this class? And what makes it stand out from previous ones under Dan Kantrovitz?”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Cubs Indeed Go Pitching-Heavy in Draft, Select 16 Arms in 21 Picks. “After drafting three college pitchers out of their first five picks in rounds 1-4, the Cubs continued the trend with 13 more arms over the final 16 rounds of the Draft.”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Complete list of Cubs UDFA signings in wake of 2026 MLB Draft haul. “After a pitching-heavy draft, Jed Hoyer added multiple college position players.”

Assorted Stories:

• Joey Ricotta (OnTapSportsNet): On This Day in Cubs History: Ryne Sandberg’s Forgotten Four-Homer Stretch Showed the MVP at His Peak. “On July 12-13, 1990, Ryne Sandberg homered in four straight official at-bats — still one of the most impressive power stretches in Cubs history. Relive Ryno’s forgotten gem.”
• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Alex Bregman’s homers sign of big second half for Cubs’ third baseman? ‘There’s some good stuff coming’. “Bregman came up with clutch home runs in each of the final two games of the first half, showing the Cubs might have been right in projecting a big turnaround for their big free-agent addition.”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune {$}): Column: Alex Bregman ends the 1st half on a roll for the Chicago Cubs — and it’s only going to get crazier. “Alex Bregman described the Chicago Cubs’ first half of the season Saturday as a time of “some high highs and some low lows,” which sounds about right.“
• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Javier Assad wraps first half as one of Cubs’ pitching lifesavers, but team’s quest for health far from over. “Assad has a 2.39 ERA in five starts since moving into the Cubs’ rotation, helping to keep the pitching staff afloat amid a ton of injuries. But the team’s not out of the woods on that front yet.”
• Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Cubs get good news on Justin Steele amid projected bullpen return. “With the Cubs likely looking to land some help at the deadline for their pitching staff, they could be getting some help from an internal move.”
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): Chicago Cubs prospects — and roommates — Mason McGwire and Josiah Hartshorn embrace Futures Game experience. “Two days shy of the anniversary of being drafted by the Chicago Cubs made Sunday’s appearance in the All-Star Futures Game a surreal experience for Josiah Hartshorn.”
• Elias Schuster (Chicago Cubs On SI): Meteoric Rise of Owen Ayers Gives the Cubs A Lot to Think About at Catcher. “The Chicago Cubs’ Owen Ayers is reportedly about to see his third promotion of the season.”

Food For Thought:

John Weldon “JJ” Cale (December 5, 1938 – July 26, 2013) was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Though he avoided the limelight, his influence as a musical artist has been acknowledged by figures such as Neil Young, Mark Knopfler, Waylon Jennings, and Eric Clapton, who described him as one of the most important artists in rock history. He is one of the originators of the Tulsa sound, a loose genre drawing on blues, rockabilly, country, and jazz. According to AllMusic, he was known for his “laconic delivery and shuffling boogie rhythm,” as well as for his “laid-back rootsy style”. He rarely diverted from this style throughout his career.

Along with a number of other young Tulsa musicians, Cale moved to Los Angeles in late 1964, where he found employment as a studio engineer as well as playing at bars and clubs. In 1966, while living in the city, he cut a demo single with Liberty Records of his songs “After Midnight” with “Slow Motion” as the B side. He distributed copies of the single to his Tulsa musician friends living in Los Angeles, many of whom were successfully finding work as session musicians. Not being able to make enough money as a studio engineer, he sold his guitar and returned to Tulsa in late 1967.

In 1970, it came to Cale’s attention that Eric Clapton had recorded “After Midnight” on his debut album. Cale, who was languishing in obscurity at the time, had no knowledge of Clapton’s recording until it became a radio hit in 1970. “I was dirt poor, not making enough to eat and I wasn’t a young man. I was in my thirties, so I was very happy. It was nice to make some money.“

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

The Colorado Rockies are a team in the midst of a rebuild. With this in mind, the staff at Purple Row thought it would be useful to revisit the “State of the Position” series that we ran in March to see where things stand. We’ve asked authors of the spring articles to re-evaluate their earlier remarks with an eye toward the August 3 trade deadline. 

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What I said in March

For my initial article about the new coaching staff, I described them as a “data-driven team of problem solvers and relationship builders.” I also introduced you to them, and asked manager Warren Schaeffer (who I described as a “communicator” and “relationship builder”) to describe each member of his staff in one word:

• Bench Coach, Jeff Pickler: “Prepared”
• Assistant Bench Coach, Ron Gideon: “Wise”
• Hitting Coach, Brett Pill: “Relentless”
• Assistant Hitting Coach, Jordan Pacheco: “Smooth”
• Pitching Coach, Alon Leichman: “Unique”
• Assistant Pitching Coach, Gabe Ribas: “Polished”
• Bullpen Coach, Matt Buschmann: “Funny”
• First Base/Outfield Coach, Doug Bernier: “Energetic”
• Third Base Coach, Andy González: “Machine”
• Bullpen Catcher & Assistant to Baseball Operations, Kyle Cunningham: “Controversial”
• Catching Coach & Bullpen Catcher, Chris Rabago: “Sneaky”

After a whirlwind offseason, we finally were able to see the coaching staff in action. Schaeffer was running his first spring training, and his new staff put their words into action. Spring training was all about experimentation. Not only did they tinker with baseball strategies, but they also tinkered with basic things such as the daily schedule. We saw some early results in spring training, but now we’re in the midst of the regular season and can start to see progress in those areas.

Since we’re only part of the way through the season, the picture will be incomplete. But we can still get glimpses of how things have been working (or not).

All stats current as of July 11, 2026.

Where the Rockies are now

Multi-inning Relievers

At the beginning of the season, the Rockies experimented with “bulk relievers.” Essentially, the idea was that the game would start with an opener, and then he would be relieved after an inning for someone else to pitch 4-6 innings in the middle of the game. Initially, this was reserved for Antonio Senzatela and Chase Dollander. When he was called up on April 14, Tanner Gordon was also in the mix. The thinking behind it was that the “starter” could go deeper in the games – ideally the sixth or seventh inning – while not seeing the top of the order right out of the gate. It was also promoted as a way to save the bullpen, especially with the extreme conditions the Rockies have to play in. As an additional wrinkle, they would occasionally have a starter throw his scheduled bullpen in the game. 

Dollander made 10 appearances before his injury, and six of them were in relief. Five were bulk relief, where he pitched anywhere from four to six innings, and one was an in-game bullpen appearance. Senzatela was also used in a bulk relief role, but his outings were much shorter than Dollander’s. He made one appearance of three innings, and another of 3.1 innings, but the rest have been 2.2 IP or fewer. 10 of his last 11 appearances have been within the confines of one inning (one outing was 0.2 IP). Gordon was used the most like Dollander, pitching 3-6.1 innings across seven bulk relief appearances.

Dollander is on the 60-day IL after undergoing internal brace surgery; Senzatela has transitioned into more of a traditional reliever; and Gordon was moved back into the starting rotation.

In their place, Zach Agnos has become the de facto bulk reliever. Agnos has made 25 appearances (including two starts), and nine of them have been three or more innings in length (though one was his start on June 6 against the Milwaukee Brewers). Juan Mejia has also been used over multiple innings 12 times in 38 appearances, but never more than two innings. 

Conclusion: The bulk reliever experiment showed some promise, but injuries to the rotation (including Dollander) forced them to abandon it for a more traditional pitching approach.We’ll see if that change was due to the injuries, or if this will be a permanent switch back.

Pitch Suggesting

Another tactic the Rockies experimented with early in the season was “pitch suggestions.” The idea was that the pitching coaches, typically Alon Leichman, would suggest every pitch to the pitcher and catcher, who would if they wanted it. Most of them embraced it, but some pitchers still called their own pitches. It was a collaborative effort between all three parties, and the pitchers had the autonomy to shake off any pitches they didn’t agree with. 

As the season has gone on, it appears the Rockies have transitioned away from pitch suggesting. President of baseball operations Paul DePodesta told the media last weekend that they are refining the process, and some players are still using it. 

Conclusion: It will be interesting to see if the Rockies go back to pitch suggestions after the All-Star Break, what the process will look like going forward, or if they abandon it completely. But this particular experiment shows that the coaching staff and front office aren’t locked into one way of thinking and are constantly refining their approach to the game. 

Base Stealing

Schaeffer & Co. have emphasized better baserunning and generally creating more opportunities on the basepaths. That means focusing on speed and stolen bases. The Rockies made that vision clear when they traded for Jake McCarthy, who leads the team with 15 stolen bases in 19 attempts. Every single position player who has made an appearance with the Rockies has at least one stolen base except for TJ Rumfield, Chad Stevens, Brett Sullivan and Sterlin Thompson. Hunter Goodman has more stolen bases in the first half of 2026 (5) than the last three seasons combined (3). He’s been caught four times, but is still attempting more than he ever has.

The Rockies as a team have recorded 66 stolen bases in 95 attempts. The 66 stolen bases ranks them 14th in MLB, and the 29 times caught ranks them fourth. In the first half of 2025, they stole 52 bases (23rd) and were caught 24 times (T-8th). In 2024, they had 53 stolen bases (T-20th) and were caught 19 times (T-10th).

Conclusion: The Rockies are prioritizing different ways to get runs. It goes back to “he gets on base” from Moneyball, but it’s working. 

In summary, this coaching staff has shown a willingness to try new things and make adjustments as needed.

Offensive Output

The biggest turnaround so far has been the offense. 

Heading into Sunday’s game against San Francisco, the Rockies ranked in the top seven in average (.256) and OPS (.748), sixth in slugging (.421) and seventh in OBP (.327). Comparatively, in 2025, they ranked last in OBP (.293), 27th in OPS (.679), 24th in slugging (.386) and 23rd in average (.237). 

Since June 1, the Rockies’ 215 runs scored are the second-most in MLB behind only the Milwaukee Brewers (221). They also have four players in the Top 20 in OPS since June 1: Kyle Karros (1.065, 3rd), Hunter Goodman (.995, 9th), TJ Rumfield (.946, 15th) and Jake McCarthy (.943, 18th). They have also been averaging 5.06 runs per game at home and 4.54 runs on the road. They have not averaged more than 4.0 runs on the road since 2020 (4.07) and have not averaged more than 4.5 runs on the road since 2007 (4.72).

It wasn’t always like this. May was a rough month. After a 14-18 start, they went just 8-20 in May and were outscored 190-119. But since June 1, they are 17-21 and have been outscored just 221-215. They also have not been shut out since May 19.

Conclusion: The Rockies are finding more ways to score runs and keep games closer. They are not rolling over and letting teams beat them’; instead, they are forcing them to. By the All-Star Break in 2025, they’d been outscored 589-336 (-253). In 2026, it’s 552-465 (-87).

Plate Discipline

Plate discipline has been something that has plagued the Rockies for years. But that is changing this year, as well.

In 2025, the Rockies struck out 25.9% of the time. Only the LA Angels were worse (27.1%). In 2024, they led the league with a 28.8% strikeout rate; and in 2023 they ranked third (25.5%). However, in 2026, they rank 11th so far (22.8%). 

Their walk rate is still relatively low – 8.4%, which ties them with the St. Louis Cardinals for 17th in MLB. In 2025, they ranked last (6.7%). In 2024, they were tied with the San Diego Padres for 16th (7.5%). And in 2023, they were 18th (7.4%). 

Some of this can be attributed to an overall tightening up of plate discipline. In March and April, the Rockies struck out 25.1% of the time – 29th in MLB. Since June 1, they’ve struck out just 21% – 10th in MLB. 

As far as walk rate is concerned, they walked just 8% of the time (21st) in March and April. Since June 1, they’ve walked 9.5% of the time (6th). 

And no player exemplifies that more than third baseman Kyle Karros. Prior to Sunday’s contest, Karros had reached base in 19-straight games. It was the longest active on-base streak in the league, and tied for the longest streak by a Rockie this season (Mickey Moniak, April 15-May 7). He is also slashing .342/.434/.631 with six homers since June 1. Both his 1.065 OPS and .434 OBP rank third in the league. Prior to that, Karros was slashing just .215/.273/.337 with three homers.

Conclusion: The Rockies are becoming much more patient at the plate. They are learning as they go and making adjustments. They are putting more emphasis on getting on base by any means possible, which is helping them score more runs, especially late in games.

Defensive Positional Versatility

In addition to pitching versatility, the Rockies also touted positional versatility in the field. This is nothing new for the Rockies, but this new team has cranked it up to 12.

This was first evident when they signed Willi Castro, who has been the definition of a “versatile veteran” for years. So far in 2026, Castro has played every position at least once except for pitcher and catcher and there have been occasional instances where he played multiple positions in the same game. Cory Cohen wrote an excellent profile on Castro’s positional versatility just last week.

We’ve also seen Edouard Julien play first and second base, as well as Tyler Freeman and Troy Johnston play both infield and outfield. Braxton Fulford has been primarily used as a designated hitter and backup catcher, but also dabbled in the outfield last week. This was also something we saw from Ryan Ritter in spring training.

But perhaps the biggest indicator of the new coaches’ emphasis on positional versatility is Cole Carrigg. Carrigg is famously a “super-utilityman” (and a switch hitter, to boot). Interestingly, he has only played outside of center field twice — he played three innings of shortstop over two separate appearances — but that’s likely because of Brenton Doyle’s injury.

Conclusion: This is something the Rockies have worked on for years, and it’s something many teams do across the league. It’s one thing to have a player who can play a couple of positions well, but it’s another to be “able” to play everything serviceably. And perhaps this is something the Rockies have realized, as well, because Castro in particular has stayed in the infield a lot more lately and there haven’t been as many in-game positional adjustments. This will be something to keep an eye on in the second half.

Win-Loss Record and Overall Results

The biggest and most obvious metric is the raw win-loss record of the Rockies in 2026. Heading into the All-Star Break, the Rockies are 39-59. That’s about a 64-98 pace. Considering they’ve lost 100+ games in each of the last three seasons, that’s a significant improvement. Additionally, the last time they won more than 34 games in the first half was 2022, when they were 43-50 (they finished 68-94 that year). Don’t get me wrong – if they finish 64-98, it’s still bad. But the last year they won fewer than 100 games was 2022, and 98 losses is still 21 fewer than last year.

In 2026, they are 22-25 at home and 17-34 on the road. They are also 14-14 in one-run games, and have scored an MLB-leading 133 runs in the eighth inning or later. They have come from behind to win 25 times, and five of those have been from down three runs.

Additionally, they are slashing .294/.360/.480 with 43 doubles, four triples and 28 home runs in the eighth inning or later. 50 of the Rockies’ games have been decided by two runs or fewer, which is tied for the second-most in the majors. Their 30 losses by that margin are the third-most in MLB.

Conclusion: Warren Schaeffer has repeatedly said this team believes in each other, and he and players have mentioned on countless occasions how they never believe they are out of any game. That was something we saw last year, and it has continued this year. The fact that they have not been shut out since the middle of May shows how much fight there is in this team, and that’s all you can ask for (even though coming back from a 9-0 deficit in the first inning to win the game doesn’t happen very often).

Closing Thoughts

As I said in the opening, the coaching data is incomplete because we only have just over half a season’s worth of data to look at. Additionally, the Rockies are coming off of a historically bad 2025 season, so they have a big hole to dig themselves out of. 

But the early returns – especially since June 1 – have been encouraging. May was bad, but they’ve since turned a corner. That shows they’re learning and making the necessary adjustments. The Rockies remind me of students who have gotten F’s on their report cards for the last few years and are looking to get C’s. It takes the right teacher(s) to get them there, and so far, things are trending in the right direction under “The Schaeffer Way.”

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Good morning, baseball fans!

Tonight is the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, being held at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The game will be broadcast nationally on Fox.

Getting the start for the National League will be the Philadelphia Phillies’ own left-hander Cristopher Sánchez, who ended the first half of the season with a 2.62 ERA, 2.70 FIP, with 144 strikeouts to 25 walks in 127.1 innings pitched.

Starting for the American League will be Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease, who ended the first half with a 2.56 ERA, 2.18 FIP, with 148 strikeouts to 44 walks in 98.1 innings pitched.

Here are the starting lineups:

National League

1. Kyle Schwarber – Philadelphia Phillies – DH
2. Juan Soto – New York Mets – LF
3. Freddie Freeman – Los Angeles Dodgers – 1B
4. CJ Abrams – Washington Nationals – SS
5. Max Muncy – Los Angeles Dodgers – 3B
6. Ozzie Albies – Atlanta Braves – 2B
7. Brandon Marsh – Philadelphia Phillies – RF
8. Andy Pages – Los Angeles Dodgers – CF
9. Drake Baldwin – Atlanta Braves – C

American League

1. Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels – CF
2. Yordan Alvarez – Houston Astros – DH
3. Shea Langeliers – Athletics – C
4. Junior Caminero – Tampa Bay Rays – 3B
5. Bobby Witt, Jr. – Kansas City Royals – SS
6. Cody Bellinger – New York Yankees – RF
7. Ben Rice – New York Yankees – 1B
8. Riley Greene – Detroit Tigers – LF
9. Ernie Clement – Toronto Blue Jays – 2B

The San Francisco Giants have two players expected to appear in the game, RHP Logan Webb and second baseman Luis Arraez.

Let’s go, National League!

This week marks the All-Star break for more than just the major league teams. The minor league affiliates are off for the next few days as well, never mind that the leagues themselves don’t put on All-Star Games any more, like they used to. For a variety of reasons, there probably wouldn’t be all that many Orioles prospect All-Stars this year anyway.

These weekly updates focus on the team’s top prospects, particularly those on Camden Chat’s composite top 20 Orioles prospect list from before the season. They also include other guys who interest me who might develop into prospects over time. I do not tend to spend much time on non-prospect journeymen.

Here’s how things went this week:

Triple-A Norfolk Tides

• Last week’s results: 3-2 vs. Syracuse (Mets)
• Second half record: 5-11, last place (8 GB) in International League East

Norfolk combines a bottom-half pitching staff with a worst-in-the-league offense in terms of runs scored per game. No wonder this team is a brutal 33-58. The roster is largely a collection of journeyman guys who ostensibly exist as depth for the MLB roster except, if this is how they’re playing at Triple-A, they barely even count for that.

This is particularly relevant in the wake of the injury suffered by Blaze Alexander in the final game before the MLB break. Do the Orioles have an infielder they can bring up from the minors? Well, maybe. He’s the kind of no-longer-prospect I don’t usually talk about in these articles, but there is Christian Encarnacion-Strand, already on the 40-man roster and with most of his games this year played at third base. Encarnacion-Strand batted 5-15 across this week’s games, including two doubles and two homers. He’s OPSing .863 for Norfolk, though that does come with a suboptimal OBP (.309).

With Creed Willems on the injured list, there’s one actual prospect getting at-bats for Norfolk. That is Enrique Bradfield Jr., who continues to put up batting numbers that are fine as long as you ignore what his lack of power portends against MLB pitching. He had three hits and two walks in five games, including one triple, plus a stolen base, giving him 16 steals in 39 games. No question the guy is fast. Big question whether a .670 OPS at Norfolk is enough.

For the pitchers, Nestor German tossed seven shutout innings this week, while allowing just four hits and a walk. He sits at a 4.11 ERA for the season, which isn’t that exciting on its face, but it is .8 runs below the league average. That’s the equivalent of an MLB starting pitcher having a 3.41 ERA. German is at nearly a 10 K/9 and nearly a 3 K/BB. Don’t write him off just for his ERA starting with a 4.

Others of interest

• OF Heston Kjerstad – I always want him to be something. He batted 5-13 over four games played, giving him a .766 OPS in 45 games with the Tides. Probably not enough for another MLB look unless there are big league injuries.
• LHP Andrew Magno – Two runs allowed in 2.1 innings this week, not great, but the season ERA of 1.04 remains interesting. Sometimes people ask “Why isn’t this guy on the MLB team?” and probably one big answer is he’s walked 20 batters in 34.2 innings.

Tides season-to-date stats.

Double-A Chesapeake Baysox

• Last week’s results: 3-3 at Akron (Guardians)
• Second half record: 10-7, t-second place (3.5 GB) in Eastern League Southwest

The Double-A team is not quite as bad off as Norfolk: Their offense isn’t the worst in their league. They are a bit below average, same as their pitching staff. I had higher hopes for the team. As an Orioles fan, I’m used to disappointment. The only defense against that is not getting excited in the first place.

I’m obligated to lead with my guy Aron Estrada, even when the news is bad. The infielder had four hits in 22 at-bats this week, and drew only one walk, so that’s a .481 OPS over five games. The season line still isn’t bad for a 21-year-old at this level: .276/.317/.474. Fellow 21-year-old Thomas Sosa, an outfielder, fared better here, 6-22 including a homer, though he struck out seven times.

The Joseph Dzierwa excitement train did not run into too many problems this past week. He allowed a run over five innings in his lone start, a solo home run. Dzierwa also got a chance to pitch in the All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, retiring the only batter he pitched against. The week also featured an impressive eight shutout innings in a single start by Luis De León. If he was regularly firing off outings like that, he’d be a lot more exciting. Instead, 4.76 ERA in 70 innings. Love the 11.1 K/9.

Others of interest

• RHP Juaron Watts-Brown – Would I even mention him if he wasn’t a hyphenated Brown? Maybe not. Struck out eight batters in five innings this past week. The season ERA of 6.24 in 12 starts is less fun.
• C/1B Ethan Anderson – Hit the injured list with an ankle injury, a real shame since he’s rocked this year: .270/.369/.520 with 17 homers.

Baysox season-to-date stats.

High-A Frederick Keys

• Last week’s results: 3-2 vs. Jersey Shore (Phillies)
• Second half record: 11-9, t-second place (1.5 GB) in South Atlantic League North

The Keys had a guy in the Futures Game as well. That was Ike Irish. He batted twice and walked once. In three games with the Keys before heading to Philadelphia, last year’s first rounder had three hits, including a double, bringing him to an .843 OPS in 71 games.

Fellow first rounder Wehiwa Aloy took the lead in Irish’s temporary absence. Aloy’s six games over this past week saw him rack up nine hits, including two homers, giving him 13 for the season. The thing to watch with Aloy is the strikeouts. He added eight this week and has a 27.2% strikeout rate this year. It’s not Vance Honeycutt territory (he struck out ten times in 11 at-bats in three games) but it’s not what you want.

Among the starting pitchers, the best outing this week was thrown by Twine Palmer, acquired from the Astros last year. His handful of games with Delmarva after the trade last year were so bad, so to see him continuing to do well this year a level higher is nice. This week saw him strike out eight batters over six innings while allowing just a run on three hits and two walks. For the season, it’s a 3.56 ERA and 1.203 WHIP for Palmer.

Others of interest

• LHP Boston Bateman – Three runs allowed in five innings this week, less than ideal. Six strikeouts with only one walk allowed. Walk rates are my concern for him (4.6 BB/9 for the season), so if he can keep those down, I think he’ll be OK.
• LHP Caden Hunter – Last year’s sixth round pick allowed two runs in five innings; he’s got a 1.93 ERA in eight starts with Frederick. Again, watching the walk rate (also 4.6 BB/9)
• OF RJ Austin – 7-15 including a double and a homer, and he walked twice, and he stole eight bases to up his season total to 26. It’s a .259/.361/.414 line in 46 games for last year’s third rounder.

Keys season-to-date stats.

Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds

• Last week’s results: 2-4 vs. Kannapolis (White Sox)
• Second half record: 8-13, fifth place (3.5 GB) in Carolina League North

The lowest-level full-season Orioles affiliate is like Norfolk, except which thing is bad is flipped: They have the worst pitching staff in the league in terms of run prevention and they’re near the bottom in offense. It’s added up to a brutal record for this team as well, one that’s continuing into the second half.

On Friday night, one of the exciting young players on this team, infielder Jaiden Lo Re, left the game early after a collision on the bases. He was back in action on Sunday, reaching base all five times he came to the plate while driving in three runs. Lo Re has a .952 OPS in 27 games here. Fellow 19-year-old infielder DJ Layton’s week included 5-17 hitting with four walks and a pair of stolen bases; his .257/.402/.391 batting line in 75 games is also interesting for this level.

Others of interest

• RHP Christian Rodriguez – Seven shutout innings this past week, with five hits and a walk allowed. The Orioles picked him in the 10th round two years ago. He’s 24, old for this level. I think we’ll see some promotions once the draft picks start signing.

Shorebirds season-to-date stats.

**

In last week’s minor league player of the week poll, you chose my guy Estrada as the winner, narrowly edging Rodriguez. Thanks for your support! Estrada is our ninth different winner of the weekly polls this season. Irish is the only guy to win twice. Other single week winners: Victor Figueroa, Payton Eeles, Braylin Tavera, Caden Hunter, Wehiwa Aloy, Jaiden Lo Re, and Joseph Dzierwa.

Will we add another repeat winner this week? The choice is yours.

Virginia baseball was far from perfect in Chris Pollard’s first season, but one thing nobody could dispute was their quality top end talent. Five Wahoos were selected by pro organizations in the 2026 MLB Draft last weekend.

A.J. Gracia did not have to wait long to hear his name called, as the Atlanta Braves picked the two-time all-ACC outfielder ninth overall. Gracia becomes the sixth all-time Cavalier to go in the top ten, and the first since Pavin Smith (7th to the Arizona Diamondbacks) and Adam Haseley (8th to the Philadelphia Phillies) in 2017. Some scouts have been skeptical of Gracia’s long-term outlook defensively, but his bat was too good to resist.

Welcome to #BravesCountry AJ! pic.twitter.com/kVWY2Jg5PX

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 11, 2026

Eric Becker was also selected on day one, joining fellow UVA alumni Andrew Abbott and Ethan O’Donnell in the Cincinnati Reds organization as a second round pick. Becker’s stock dropped slightly as a result of a “down” junior season in Charlottesville. Still, he finishes his college career with a .348 overall batting average and 1.048 OPS.

The third ‘Hoo off the board was sixth-round selection Kyle Johnson, who will more than likely specialize as a pitcher in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. Joe Tiroly, a seventh round selection by the San Diego Padres, and Tyler Kapa, the Miami Marlins’ 14th round pick, round out the list.

As far as committed high schoolers are concerned, call it a small victory for the UVA program. The only member of the 2026 recruiting class that will not make it to Grounds is, as expected, infielder Bo Lowrance, who went 40th overall to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Meanwhile, highly rated recruits such as RHP Wyatt Clatur, LHP Sean Loggie, and SS Will Yow (as confirmed earlier this offseason) all will join the Cavaliers roster for the 2027 season after going undrafted.

Grateful to have been part of Bo’s journey. The @Dodgers got a great player and a world class family! https://t.co/05TWxpC2p4

— Chris Pollard (@coachchris14) July 11, 2026

Catcher Jake Weatherspoon also did not hear his name called and may very well be returning next season. The JUCO transfer tallied ten multi-hit games and 13 extra base hits in 2026, slashing .272/.337/.429.

Elsewhere around the country, former Cavaliers pitchers Bryson Moore (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Evan Blanco (Athletics), as well as position players Henry Ford (Seattle Mariners) and Aidan Teel (Minnesota Twins) were all middle round draftees.

The 2026 MLB Draft is over, and the White Sox targeted outfielders and power bats.

This year’s signing deadline is July 22, although the White Sox are expected to ink at least 20 of their picks. As you are probably aware, each pick in the draft is assigned a specific and unique value, and the sum of those values is the amount a team is allowed to spend on their draft selections.

For the first 10 rounds of the draft, every dollar spent counts against that total (the bonus pool). All picks after the 10th Round are assigned $150,000 as the signing bonus; players can be (and often are) signed for more or less than that — but anything more than $150,00 counts against the bonus pool.

HOWEVER, teams are allowed to overspend their bonus pool by up to 5%. If a team spends more than 105% of their bonus pool, stiff penalties are introduced: the loss of future draft picks. For this reason, under these rules no MLB team has ever exceeded that 5% overage.

There are various strategies employed to maximize pick value, which often ends up on the backs of college seniors with no leverage (i.e. cannot refuse to sign/return to school); the White Sox in fact have paid signing bonuses as little as $10,000 or perhaps $5,000 under such circumstances. The unused money is then poured into enticing one of the “money picks” (Nos. 1-10, but more likely in the first five rounds) to sign. Or, as was the case DJ Gladney in 2019, a “steal” in the lower 10s of the draft will have such savings steered to him to ensure signing/eschewing a college scholarship commitment.

Our tracker is below. Scroll right for additional details, and scroll all the way down for details on undrafted free agent signings.

2026 White Sox Draft Signing Tracker

Director of scouting Mike Shirley has indicated already that 20th Round pick Connor Fennell may not be signed, as he was chosen as insurance against another player refusing to agree to terms or not passing his physical. But with 21 picks, the White Sox will very likely ink at least 20 players out of this draft.

If a player doesn’t sign with the White Sox, the money slotted for their pick is lost; it cannot be used to sign other players in the draft class. The White Sox would, however, get a compensation pick in 2027 that is one slot lower. That is, if the White Sox failed to sign Cole Prosek, they would get the No. 42 pick in the 2027 draft. If a pick lower than the first two rounds doesn’t sign, the White Sox get a compensatory pick the next year at the end of the round; if third-rounder Joey Volchko doesn’t come to terms, the White Sox will get an extra pick at the end of 2027’s third round.

Undrafted free agents (UDFA)
Among the immediate batch of UDFAs this year, lefty starter Michael Sharman stands out. The Clemson lefty pitched much older than his college competition (he’s now 24) but in two major college seasons was fantastic. In 2026 he started 15 games with a 3.39 ERA — terrific enough, but also consider his 77 strikeouts, 11 walks and tiny 1.091 WHIP.

Welcome back to the Minor League Roundup!

As a reminder, you can find this roundup — covering everything you need to know about each of the Brewers’ minor league affiliates — every Tuesday morning right here on Brew Crew Ball. For consistency, all organizational prospect rankings will reference MLB Pipeline unless otherwise noted.

Triple-A Nashville Sounds

Current record: 53-38
Record this week: 3-3
This week’s opponent: @ Charlotte Knights
Next week’s opponent: vs. Norfolk Tides

Standout performances:
Luke Adams: 7-for-15, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 1 K
Tyler Black: 7-for-16, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 6 BB, 4 K
Ethan Murray: 8-for-19, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K
Thomas Pannone: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

With Luis Lara and Cooper Pratt now in the big leagues, the Sounds are down to just one Top 100 prospect in Jett Williams, who appeared in only one game this week. Nashville still features Luke Adams and Jeferson Quero (7-for-24), both of whom continued to produce, but the promotions of Lara and Pratt have opened up more playing time for some of the organization’s less-heralded players — and they’ve taken advantage.

Four Sounds hitters batted over .400 this week. One was Adams. The other three? Ethan Murray, Darrien Miller, and Tyler Black. None are currently considered to be among the Brewers’ top 30 prospects (though Black once was), but all three have played an important role in Nashville’s success. Murray is hitting .272 with a .712 OPS on the season, while Black owns a .781 OPS and has continued to show the on-base skills that earned him opportunities in the majors. Miller has only been in Triple-A for a few weeks after earning a promotion on June 27, but before leaving Biloxi he posted a .943 OPS with the Shuckers.

1st and aint going to be the last pic.twitter.com/Gz6BdtuGh9

— Nashville Sounds (@nashvillesounds) July 9, 2026

A lot of attention naturally goes to the organization’s biggest names, but weeks like this are a reminder that a healthy farm system needs more than just blue-chip prospects. Players like Murray, Miller, and Black may not generate the same headlines as guys like Lara and Pratt, but they’ve consistently produced, helped their clubs win games, and provided the kind of depth that allows top prospects to develop in competitive environments. Not every player has to become a star to play an important role in the organization’s success.

The offense carried the Sounds this week, but the pitching staff had a much tougher time. Only four pitchers logged more than three innings: Coleman Crow, Carlos Rodriguez, Gerson Garabito, and Thomas Pannone. Pannone was the lone bright spot, holding the Charlotte Knights to two earned runs over six innings. The other three, however, struggled.

Crow, who recently completed his rehab assignment and was optioned back to Triple-A, allowed four runs on four hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings. Rodriguez made two appearances as an opener, surrendering eight runs (four earned) in 4 1/3 innings, while Garabito was tagged for seven earned runs across five innings.

Tyson Hardin also turned in a solid outing, allowing one earned run on two hits over three innings while striking out three. His ERA is now down to 3.63 through his first 10 Triple-A starts.

Double-A Biloxi Shuckers

Current record: 46-37
Record this week: 3-3
This week’s opponent: @ Knoxville Smokies
Next week’s opponent: vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Standout performances:

Matthew Wood: 5-for-13, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K
Mike Boeve: 6-for-20, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 2 K
Josh Adamczewski: 5-for-21, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K
Andrew Fischer: 5-for-21, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 10 K
Jaron DeBerry: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 11 K
Braylon Owens: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Bishop Letson: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 6 K

This part of the column is getting so predictable. Guess who this week’s standouts were? Yep: Josh Adamczewski, who had more hits than strikeouts yet again. Andrew Fischer, who racked up four extra-base hits, including another home run, despite striking out in nearly half of his at-bats. Mike Boeve hit .300 and walked more than he struck out. Rinse, repeat.

Adamczewski is now officially a top-100 prospect after MLB Pipeline updated its rankings. He wasn’t even a top-30 Brewers prospect at the start of last season. It’s been a meteoric rise for Milwaukee’s new No. 6 prospect, who has done nothing but hit since joining the organization. Frankly, the recognition from Pipeline feels overdue.

No baseball for a couple days.

Just wanted to show you guys a couple of #Brewers prospects (Andrew Fischer and Josh Adamczewski) who are absolutely MASHING in MiLB this year!

UNTOUCHABLE! https://t.co/ocPhzX3lZm

— Tommy Wortz (@TommyWortz) July 13, 2026

On the pitching side, Jaron DeBerry continues to impress. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a start since May 17—almost exactly two months ago. After that outing, his ERA sat north of six. Following this week’s seven-inning, two-hit, 11-strikeout gem, it’s all the way down to an even 4.00. Braylon Owens was excellent as well, allowing just one run on four hits over six innings.

Shuckers Pitchers w/ 10+ K in Back-to-Back Starts

– Jacob Misiorowski
– Bowden Francis
– JARON DeBERRY#ShuckYeah#ThisIsMyCrewpic.twitter.com/FctHkGzHgG

— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) July 10, 2026

Good news: Bishop Letson allowed three runs while striking out six over 5⅓ innings. Bad news: he also walked four and surrendered eight hits. As soon as Logan Henderson graduates, Letson will become the Brewers’ top pitching prospect, but he’s taken a step back in his first full season at Double-A. He owns a 4.62 ERA and a 4.91 BB/9, and the command has been inconsistent. If he can tighten that up, the stuff is still good enough to make him a successful major league starter.

Jesús Made and Blake Burke both went 3-for-20 this week, which happens. It’s baseball. Check back next week.

---

High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Current record: 46-33
Record this week: 3-3
This week’s opponent: vs. Beloit Sky Carp
Next week’s opponent: vs. Quad Cities River Bandits

Standout performances:

Luiyin Alastre: 5-for-11, 2 2B, 0 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K
Blayberg Diaz: 5-for-11, 0 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K
Daniel Dickinson: 9-for-20, 2 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 7 BB, 6 K
Tyler Rodriguez: 6-for-14, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 7 BB, 2 K
Braylon Payne: 4-for-11, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K
Wande Torres: 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Ethan Dorchies: 9.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 11 K
Daniel Corniel: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Garrett Hodges: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
Tanner Perry: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Wisconsin’s top performer this week was Daniel Dickinson, who turned in arguably his best performance of the season. The 2025 sixth-round pick went 9-for-20 (.450) with two doubles, three home runs, nine RBI, and seven walks, good for a ridiculous 1.593 OPS. Dickinson got off to a slow start in his professional career, but he’s quietly raised his OPS to .786 through his first 225 at-bats and is beginning to look like the polished college bat the Brewers thought they were drafting.

Daniel Dickinson won the Midwest League Player of the Week award 🏅

Dickinson had a 1.593 OPS on the week, getting on base more than half of his PA and smacking 3 home runs and 2 doubles 🔥

He has played all of his 72 games in High-A Wisconsin his first full professional season… pic.twitter.com/1cXUQiSvUt

— Brewers Player Development (@BrewersPD) July 13, 2026

Eric Bitonti struck out 10 times in 20 at-bats, but he also collected five hits — three of them home runs. Not bad. Some evaluators started to sour on Bitonti after his strikeout issues persisted this season, and while 109 strikeouts in 254 at-bats is still a glaring concern, he’s also hitting .264 with an .894 OPS and 15 home runs. Bitonti nearly fell out of the Brewers’ top 30 prospects before the latest rankings update, but he’s continuing to make adjustments at the plate. He’ll spend the rest of the season as a 20-year-old, so there’s no reason to rush the development of a player with this kind of raw power.

Bitonti is 20 years old still, he has 15 homers and an .896 OPS in High-A. He’s also been playing third base a lot more since Fischer went to Biloxi, and I still think that’s a position he can handle.

Don’t forget about him https://t.co/XqTqrb7x0y

— Spencer Michaelis (@smichaelis234) July 12, 2026

Braylon Payne continued his breakout campaign, going 4-for-11 with a home run and four RBI. At this point, he’s officially on promotion watch. Tyler Rodriguez also stayed hot, going 6-for-14 with seven walks against just two strikeouts. Through his first 11 games with Wisconsin, Rodriguez is hitting .368 with a .974 OPS. Listed as a shortstop, he’s spent this season exclusively in the outfield and at first base, making him another intriguing player to watch as he settles into High-A.

The pitching staff had plenty to celebrate this week as well. Wande Torres and Ethan Dorchies, both of whom have struggled at times this season, turned in their best outings of the year against Beloit. Torres tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while walking nobody and striking out eight. Dorchies was nearly as impressive across two starts, surrendering just two earned runs over 9⅓ innings while striking out 11. Daniel Corniel also contributed four solid innings of one-run ball, while Garrett Hodges and Tanner Perry each chipped in quality performances to help Wisconsin secure the series win.

Single-A Wilson Warbirds

Current record: 47-38
Record this week: 4-1
This week’s opponent: vs. Fayetteville Woodpeckers
Next week’s opponent: @ Hickory Crawdads

Standout performances:

Juan Ortuno: 6-for-15, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 5 BB, 4 K
Brady Ebel: 5-for-14, 3 2B, 1 RBI, 6 BB, 1 K
Alexander Frias: 6-for-18, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K
Filippo Di Turi: 4-for-13, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 4 K
Pedro Ibarguen: 4-for-13, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K
Jarrette Bonet: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Miqueas Mercedes: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
Andrew Healy: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Enderson Mercado: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K

Alexander Frias went 6-for-18 with a home run and eight RBIs, only striking out twice. After posting a .441 average in rookie ball, the 18-year-old is showing he belongs in full-season ball.

Alexander Frias hit a 2R HR, his second in Low-A pic.twitter.com/Kb3Wn31W22

— Spencer Michaelis (@smichaelis234) July 12, 2026

Brady Ebel, whose brother was drafted by the Brewers with the 25th pick in this weekend’s MLB Draft, notched three extra base hits and six walks while only striking out once. Juan Ortuño matched Ebel with six hits of his own while adding three doubles, four RBIs, and five walks, continuing a quietly productive season in Wilson. Filippo DiTuri and Pedro Ibarguen both also hit over .300 with four RBIs apiece.

The best performance of the week wasn’t any of those guys, but rather Jose Anderson. In true Jose Anderson form, Anderson had five hits this week, but four of them were home run — bringing him to 21, the most in the Carolina League.

Jose Anderson’s 2nd HR of the game and 20th of the season is a walk-off homer for Wilson

The strikeouts remain a big issue for him, but the power is definitely impressive pic.twitter.com/7yUtU67r6K

— Spencer Michaelis (@smichaelis234) July 11, 2026

Led by the usual suspects, the pitching staff also turned in another strong week. Jarrette Bonet was dominant, striking out seven over four scoreless innings while allowing just three hits. Miqueas Mercedes went six innings of one-run ball, striking out seven, and Andrew Healy limited Fayetteville to one run over five innings. Enderson Mercado allowed nine batters to reach base over just 4 2/3 innings, but managed to escape while only allowing two runs.

Player of the Week

I’m giving this one to the only Brewers prospect to hit four home runs this week. No, it’s not Andrew Fischer again.

José Anderson is one of the more fascinating prospects in the system. The power is impossible to ignore — he’s already up to 21 home runs on the season, and his .752 OPS is respectable — but the swing-and-miss remains a major hurdle. Anderson has struck out 125 times in 328 plate appearances, good for a staggering 38% strikeout rate. Despite his OPS, he’s hitting under .200. That’s simply not sustainable as he climbs the minor league ladder.

Still, the raw tools are intriguing. Power like Anderson’s doesn’t grow on trees, and if the Brewers can help him make enough contact and refine his approach at the plate, there’s a legitimate player in there. I’d love to see him put it all together and eventually tap into that power in Milwaukee.

Most HR in the minors by players under the age of 20

Jose Anderson (MIL, A) – 18 HR
Emil Morales (LAD, A+) – 17 HR
Braylon Payne (MIL, A+) – 16 HR
Nathan Flewelling (TB, A+) – 16 HR
Eduardo Tait (MIN, A+) – 15 HR
Ching-Hsien Ko (LAD, A) – 15 HR
Josiah Hartshorn (CHC, A+) – 15 HR

— Kirk Snyder (@dynastyinfo411) July 10, 2026

Play of the Week

Ethan Murray flashing the leather at second base (or in right field, I guess)

Are web gems still a thing?

Cause this is for sure one @SportsCenter#SCTop10@ESPNAssignDeskpic.twitter.com/1ocLY0kNnS

— Nashville Sounds (@nashvillesounds) July 11, 2026

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

How are you spending your four days off from Orioles baseball (assuming you hadn’t already bailed on Orioles baseball by, like, May)? Me, I’m going to take care of important things around the house, by which I mean catching up on TV. I’m still working my way through the Fallout season that ended in February, so there’s a hefty backlog.

Of course, there’s still baseball to enjoy if you’d like to do so. The MLB All-Star Game is tonight at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, airing on Fox at 8:00. It’ll be the usual fun showcase featuring the majors’ biggest stars, but unfortunately precious few Orioles. The Birds’ lone representative, Adley Rutschman, will be among the American League reserves, so we should see him come in midway through the game.

Rutschman is a deserving All-Star, but the fact that he’s the Orioles’ only one is kind of a bummer. I know this season hasn’t gone particularly well for the Birds, but it’s not as if they just have one good player. There are worse AL teams with more representatives. Fellow sub-.500 teams like the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Twins, and Tigers all have multiple All-Stars. Even the lowly Royals and Athletics have two apiece.

I’m a little surprised that Pete Alonso didn’t get selected to the team, especially after a fellow first baseman, the Athletics’ Nick Kurtz, bowed out with injury. The Polar Bear is already a five-time All-Star and is putting up another strong year in his Orioles debut. But I suppose the AL is stacked with first basemen even without Kurtz (and the fan-voted starter, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who also won’t be playing), as Boston’s Willson Contreras, the Yankees’ Ben Rice, and White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami are already on the roster. At the very least, I would’ve liked to see Alonso participate in the Home Run Derby, which he has won twice in his career (including a defeat of the Orioles’ Trey Mancini in 2021, which was annoying at the time).

Still, the 2026 Orioles’ fate won’t be decided by how many guys they’ve got playing in the All-Star Game. They’ve got 65 more games of baseball to play when the season resumes on Friday. And with a little momentum on their side after heading into the break on a four-game winning streak, they’re going to need to stay hot for pretty much the entire second half to stay in contention. So let’s hope that Adley enjoys his time at the Midsummer Classic, and that the rest of the team gets a nice breather and comes back ready to win a lot of games.

Links

Elite defense proving 3-time All-Star Rutschman is ‘still that guy’ – MLB.com

There aren’t normally a lot of stolen base attempts in the All-Star Game anyway, but I don’t think the National League will dare try it when Adley is behind the dish.

Orioles trade for Sanders, move Akin to 60-day IL (Raquet optioned) – School of Roch

The O’s acquired Cam Sanders, and before you ask, no, he’s not a third baseman, and he’s not even joining the major league roster. We’ll have to wait another couple days to find out who Blaze Alexander’s replacement will be.

Will O’s top pick Eric Booth Jr. need to make swing adjustments in pro ball? – Steve Melewski

Most likely, yes. Is the Orioles’ development staff capable of making it happen? To be determined.

Why didn’t Orioles pick left-handed pitcher Gio Rojas in draft? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com

Because you don’t draft for need. And even if you did, a high school pitcher wouldn’t exactly help the Orioles anytime soon.

Orioles’ Blaze Alexander responds to Royals regarding quick-pitch tactic that broke his hand – The Baltimore Banner

Alexander called out Lucas Erceg for quick-pitching him on the fateful HBP, and got in a dig on Vinnie Pasquantino for good measure. Blaze’s troll game is on point.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! And there’s a good chance that you used to play for the Orioles, because a whopping nine players in O’s history were born on July 14. I would venture a guess that that’s more O’s birthdays than any other date on the calendar, but I’m not going to do the legwork of looking it up.

That lengthy birthday list includes three players currently active in the majors or minors: infielders Joey Ortiz (28) and Andrew Velazquez (32) and right-hander Isaac Mattson (31). It also includes the Orioles’ most recent Cy Young Award winner, right-hander Steve Stone (79). Other ex-Orioles born on July 14 include infielders Bernie Castro (47), Victor Rodríguez (65), and Billy Smith (73); outfielder Derrick May (58); and the late catcher Earl Williams (b. 1948, d. 2013).

On this date in 2012, the Orioles pulled off a wild win in a season full of them with an 8-6 walkoff against the Tigers at Camden Yards. After closer Jim Johnson blew a 4-1 lead in the ninth to allow Detroit to tie, the Tigers took a 5-4 lead in the top of the 11th, only for Adam Jones to deliver a two-out RBI single to tie it in the bottom half. The Orioles fell behind again in the 13th, but J.J Hardy promptly tied the score with a solo homer, and light-hitting backup catcher Taylor Teagarden — making his team debut — played the hero with a walkoff two-run blast. It was the Birds’ 10th consecutive extra-innings win, a streak that would eventually reach 16.

And on this day in 2019, the Orioles nearly became the victims of the first combined perfect game in MLB history, as two Rays pitchers — Ryne Stanek and Ryan Yarbrough — combined to retire the first 24 batters of the game. Hanser Alberto finally broke up the perfecto in the ninth with a leadoff single. The O’s lost, 4-1.

Random Orioles game of the day

On July 14, 1973, the Orioles beat the White Sox, 5-4, in Chicago. The O’s pounded out 12 hits, including three from DH Tommy Davis and a homer by Paul Blair. Earl Williams, on his 25th birthday, contributed two RBIs. Hall of Famer Jim Palmer worked eight strong innings for the win, but gave up three runs in the ninth before reliever Bob Reynolds escaped a bases-loaded jam on a game-ending double play.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders: Offday

Double-A Somerset Patriots: Offday

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades: Offday

Low-A Tampa Tarpons: Offday

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

3B Richard Matic 0-4, 3 K
DH George Lombard Jr. 1-2, HR, RBI, BB, CS — first AB back was a dinger!
RF Wilberson De Pena 0-3, 2 K
C Queni Pineda 1-2, BB, passed ball
2B Leni Done 1-3, 3B, RBI, 2 K
CF Jose Castro 0-3, 2 K
LF Francisco Vilorio 0-3, 2 K
SS Dexters Peralta 0-3, 2 K
1B Justin Capellan 1-3

Anthony Mena 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Sunayro Martina 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 4 K (win)

🚨George Lombard Jr CRUSHES 2nd pitch of his rehab for a solo shot!

106 MPH EV
397 Ft#RepBx#Yankeespic.twitter.com/K3hi9BcHKt

— YankeesFarm (@YankeesFarm) July 13, 2026

Dominican Summer League Yankees:W, 2-1 (8) vs. DSL Miami

CF Isaias Castillo 2-4, SB, CS
SS Stiven Marinez 1-3, BB
RF Yostin Pena 0-1, 3 BB
2B Juan Torres 2-4, 2B, RBI, K
DH Juan Martinez 0-3, K
C Cesar Lopez 0-2, BB, K
1B Edgar Jimemez 0-3, K, fielding error
3B Adrian Feliz 1-2, BB, SB
LF Kendry Diaz 1-3, 2B

Hector Moreno 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
Manny Penuelas 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K (win)

Dominican Summer League Bombers:L, 16-10 at DSL Phillies — between this scoreline and the line for the DSL Yanks, the DSL is clearly a land of contrasts

2B Dariel Santana 1-4, RBI, BB
C Alessandro Rodriguez 0-2, RBI, BB, SF, throwing error
SS Carlos Bello 1-5, RBI, K, fielding error
DH Kenneth Melendez 1-3, 2B, 2 BB
RF David Carrera 0-1, 3 BB
1B Poly Ojeda 2-4, 2B, RBI, K, fielding error
3B Germayhoni Beltre 1-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB, SB, two throwing errors
LF Sebastian Pinto 0-3, RBI, BB, K, SF
CF Alfiery Matos 1-3, 2B, 2 BB, K, SB, CS

Randy Angomas 0.1 IP, 3 H, 7 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 1 K (loss) — poor Randy has had a rough go of it, with 5+ runs allowed in five of seven starts
Breidy Adames 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Oscar Vasquez 2 IP, 3 H, 4 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Mauricio Vargas 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K
Josue Silvestre 2.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 K
Andre Avila 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K