Category: Baseball

What baseball god has it out for Sean Murphy?

After a long and windy road that includes his season-ending hip surgery and rehab after, Murph has played four (4) games since returning on May 4. The initial X-rays were fine per Mark Bowman, and Walt Weiss seemed optimistic. But the the catcher’s interference play in the Dodgers series finale on Sunday is officially a fractured left middle finger for #12. He has been placed on the 10-day IL backdated to yesterday, May 12. Absolutely brutal.

And exactly like the last time Murphy went down, the veteran Sandy León will step up to back up Drake Baldwin. Confused and wondering why he was a free agent to begin with? You’re not misremembering – León was with the team on a minor league contract and played ten games with the Gwinnett Stripers this season. However, the Braves granted him his release per his request on April 22 to pursue an opportunity with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League. Now that we are Heim-less, the Braves have gone with the veteran and beloved presence in León instead of the current Triple-A options of Chadwick Tromp and Jaír Camargo.

Outfielder José Azócar also knows what the revolving door feels like, and here he is back with the major league club. To recap briefly, he was DFA’d May 6, elected free agency May 8, and signed his new minor league contract yesterday, May 11. He’ll occupy the fourth OF / pinch runner role. And as many predicted with the return of Ha-Seong Kim, Jim Jarvis (of MLB’s play of the week fame) has been optioned down to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired outfielder Alek Thomas from the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for teenage prospect Jose Requena.

The teams announced the deal on Tuesday, May 12, after the D'backs had designated Thomas for assignment during the weekend to create a roster spot for top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt.

Thomas, 26, is a skilled defensive center fielder, but he's not been very productive at the plate over his five seasons in Arizona, producing a career OPS of .634.

The Dodgers currently have Andy Pages as their everyday center fielder, though Thomas could provide additional depth and a potential platoon partner against tough right-handed pitchers.

Add another $1.45 million to the Dodgers’ payroll with the acquisition of CF Alek Thomas https://t.co/gSMoTKoZGb

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 12, 2026

The Dodgers have yet to announce an official roster move to add Thomas, who does have minor-league options remaining and could be sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin his tenure with the team.

Recently, Eric Stephen made the following observation on BlueSky, referencing the extinct dodo bird in relation to MLB physical tickets.

I was going to respond, but then I realized I could channel my inner Brennan Lee Mulligan and tie together a couple of stories I had been meaning to write about, as I stumbled upon all this information across various threads, which I now combine into a single article of moderate success.

In other words, if I had to go down a rabbit hole on a train of thought, I now share what I found with everyone.

Eric Stephen is not alone in missing physical tickets. With the rise of smartphones and the MLB Ballpark app, the march to an all-digital baseball experience seemed inevitable. Rebecca Tauber of The Athletic recently covered how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend.

Digital tickets became increasingly common in the 2010s, with the rise of smartphones. The convenience of a digital ticket was clear; no need to worry about losing a physical ticket. Security concerns persist — digital ticket theft remains a risk — but digital ticket holders typically have stronger buyer protections, especially in the resale market. If stadiums were already heading in an all-digital direction, the pandemic hastened that change. Like restaurant menus and MetroCards, the world went digital and never returned.

But the desire for paper tickets persists, and not just among fans without smartphones.

While one can use the MLB Ballpark app as a digital record of attendance and travel, there is something to be said for having a physical reminder of an outing. On a surface level, it would seem an apt analogy for MLB physical tickets and the now-extinct Dodo, but ultimately, looks can be deceiving.

Pity the Dodo

In order to understand the true comparison, we must first detour to examine the poor flightless extinct bird. The Dodo was killed off by a combination of overhunting by the Dutch in the 17th century. The Dodo did not stand much chance in hindsight, as the birds were unused to humans, and the invasive animals the Dutch brought with them, like cats and dogs, also drove the bird to extinction.

Perhaps it was this shortsighted mindset that led the Dodgers to try to deny longtime season-ticket holder Errol Segal his physical season tickets earlier this year. Why honor a relationship where there is a quick buck to be made?

Alex Rozier and Robert Westermann of KNBC Channel 4 reported on the story in early April about how the Dodgers initially refused to print Mr. Segal’s season tickets. In the initial report, Mr. Segal eventually went to the ticket office to receive four physical tickets and had previously paid a surcharge for his season tickets because he lacked both the ability and the equipment to handle purely digital tickets.

It’s not that the Dodgers couldn’t print his tickets; it’s that they wouldn’t.

Two weeks later, after public outcry, KNBC reported that the Dodgers relented.

The team had initially offered to buy the tickets back from him, but Segal refused….

After his story was seen by millions online, the Dodgers changed their minds.

“It makes me so happy when I hand them the ticket and the smile on their face,” Segal said. “There’s nothing like an original paper ticket.”

The faithful Dodger fan now looks forward to cheering his favorite team on in person.

What Mr. Segal failed to realize was that physical tickets are now essentially a luxury item and another source of revenue for teams. So if the Dodo is the wrong bird, and you have taken notice of the title, you might be asking yourself a very obvious question.

What is an ortolan?

An ortolan is a small, endangered European songbird that, like the dodo, eaten by man. Where one can understand that 17th-century sailors might not have been fully aware of or understand conservation efforts, modern chefs cannot claim the same excuse.

Modernly, ortolans are usually drowned in brandy, which serves as both a method of dispatch and a marinade, and is eaten whole by diners minus the beak.

It is generally illegal to eat these birds, as morally dubious chefs used to blind them, tricking them into thinking it was perpetually nighttime, allowing them to gorge themselves to double or triple in size. Traditionally, one wore a napkin over one’s face when eating ortolan to capture all the flavors and hide one’s shame from God.

These birds have been featured as a minor plot point on shows like Billions, Succession, and Hannibal. Accordingly, consumption of these birds has led to an entire mythology surrounding their consumption as a status symbol for the “morally flexible,” ultra-wealthy, which is a tautology if ever there was one.

Even with the consumption of the palm-sized bird being outlawed since 1999, estimates suggest that about 30,000 ortolans are consumed in France annually, with each bird sold for around 150 euros. Whether these birds are doomed to extinction is an open question outside the scope of this essay.

Ortolans and Paper Tickets

For those straining to see the connection, paper tickets were once given freely and were not status symbols or sources of extra revenue for teams, unlike now. However, tnlike the songbird, no one will generally judge a person for obtaining a paper ticket.

There is even a boutique market for creating commemorative paper tickets. Once again, Ms. Tauber:

In the collectibles world, the market for paper tickets pales in comparison to items like sports cards or game-used equipment. Of course, pieces of history fetch a price, like a 1947 ticket stub from Jackie Robinson’s debut, which sold in 2022 for $480,000, and a 1984 ticket from Michael Jordan’s debut, which sold that same year for $468,000.

Some stadiums will still print tickets on demand; sometimes, fans can pay extra for printed tickets for special games. But many don’t print tickets purchased online for everyday games, disappointing fans who want a built-in souvenir and driving up the cost for the rare stub from a noteworthy occasion. Paper tickets from Konnor Griffin’s Pittsburgh Pirates debut on April 3 against the Baltimore Orioles (only available at the PNC Park box office for an additional fee), for example, are currently selling for hundreds of dollars in good condition.

And as interest in paper tickets has persisted — possibly more for nostalgia-fuelled souvenir collecting than actual utility — some artists and businesses are trying to fill the gap. Entire souvenir companies specialize in printing commemorative ephemera, including fake versions of paper tickets to a concert or baseball game a fan might have attended, as well as digital tickets. One website, The Creative Lane, sells custom commemorative tickets for $8.99 to $10.99.

(Emphasis added.)

I can attest to this highlighted fact in my travels. I bought commemorative tickets that either used the honor system of where I was sitting in Arizona (Walker Buehler’s near no-hitter in 2021) and San Francisco (NLDS Game 2) or insisted on accuracy by checking my MLB Ballpark app before selling me a ticket (Arlington 2025).

For Ohtani’s 50/50 game, the Marlins were just selling tickets off a reel with no rhyme or reason for seats in the upper deck, which was closed off during the game, and an area where no one sat. And yet I bought two, selling one for cost to another fan I ran into at the hotel in Miami who could not wait in the lengthy, impromptu line for a souvenir physical ticket.

While the Giants sold an official commemorative ticket, I had to get creative for Game 7’s ticket, using an eBay vendor to source a facsimile.

Considering how hard the Blue Jays have been leaning into “AL Pennant” winning promotions, one would imagine that had Game 7 gone the other way, the amount of merchandise would be enough to float the finances of the province of Ontario.

At the end of the day, one should not have to go through as many hoops to eat an endangered songbird to get a paper ticket, as one act is decadent and monstrous, and the other is the collection of a bygone memento to indicate how one enjoys their fandom.

I will leave it to you, dear reader, to identify which topic is which.

After taking game one of the weekend series in Miami and getting back to within 1 game of .500, the Nationals dropped the final two games to lose the series to the Marlins, who stormed ahead in the 8th inning of both Saturday and Sunday’s games. They didn’t play badly in either of the losses, but didn’t do enough to secure the series win, and now they will head to Cincinnati to take on the 22-19 Reds.

While the Reds are 3 games above .500, they are also tied for last place in the NL Central, which is looking extremely competitive in 2026. Offensively, the Reds are receiving big years from their star shortstop Elly De La Cruz and rookie first baseman Sal Stewart, but outside of those two, it has been a struggle, as their team’s wRC+ of 90 is 4th worst in MLB. One player you may not know is a Red and who the Nats will face off with this week is Nathaniel Lowe, who is one of the only other productive bats in the Reds lineup with a 139 wRC+ in 29 games.

On the pitching side, the Reds have a rotation filled with great young talent, such as Hunter Greene (who is currently on the IL), Chase Burns, and Rhett Lowder, but they rank 25th in baseball in starting pitching ERA regardless, with regression from starters Brady Singer and Andrew Abbott hitting them hard. The bullpen has not been much better either, ranking 22nd in bullpen ERA. Despite being 3 games over .500, the numbers show the Reds are a flawed team currently, and one the Nats could surprise in this three-game set.

Game One – Tuesday 6:40 PM EST

WSH: RHP Miles Mikolas (1-3, 7.44 ERA)

CIN: Brady Singer (2-2, 5.63 ERA)

Mikolas hasn’t quite eaten innings at the rate he was expected to this season, going at least 5 innings only twice, but the results have been much improved since his disaster start in the home opener against the Dodgers, having not allowed more than 3 runs in a start since. He’ll now face a struggling Reds lineup located in a dangerous hitters’ park.

Singer has played the innings-eater role in the Reds’ rotation, but has struggled to limit damage at the same time, giving up 4 runs in his last two starts against the Pirates and Cubs. The home run ball has plagued him in 2026, and the Nats will look to hit a few of their own off him tonight.

Game Two – Wednesday 6:40 PM EST

WSH: RHP Jake Irvin (1-4, 5.22 ERA)

CIN: LHP Nick Lodolo (0-1, 6.75 ERA)

Irvin logged yet another start where he went at least 5 innings last time out against the Twins, but did get tagged for 4 runs in the process. If Irvin can keep the ball on the ground and limit walks, he should have success against the struggling Reds’ lineup.

Lodolo made his return to the Reds rotation from injury last time out against the Astros and looked fine, going 5 1/3 innings but allowing 4 runs. Lodolo had a breakout 2025 campaign, with a 3.33 ERA in 29 starts, and will look to get back to that level here in 2026.

Game Three – Thursday 12:40 PM EST

WSH: LHP Foster Griffin (4-1, 2.12 ERA)

CIN: RHP Chase Burns (4-1, 2.11 ERA)

Foster Griffin continued his run of excellence with 7 innings of 1 run ball against the Marlins in their game one win Friday night, striking out 9 hitters in the process. He’s now down to a 2.12 ERA on the year, and has gone 20 innings of 1 run ball in his last 3 starts.

The 2nd overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Burns has electric stuff and has looked very sharp to begin 2026, throwing 6 innings of 1 run ball in his last start against the Astros. He has allowed 2 or fewer runs in all but one start this season, so the Nats may need to get scrappy at the plate and on the bases to manufacture some runs.

As the Colorado Rockies embark in earnest on their rebuild, attention turns to what’s happening in their farm system, especially with the pitching staff. One of those players is RHP JB Middleton (No. 7 PuRP), currently on the Fresno Grizzlies.

Actually, I’ll turn it over to Purple Row’s prospects expert Jeff Aberle:

Middleton became the highest-ever drafted pitcher for Southern Mississippi when the Rockies took him 45th overall in the 2025 draft (Middleton was 41st in MLB Pipeline’s draft rankings), signing the now 22-year-old right-hander to a $2.072 million bonus that was $100k under slot. Middleton doesn’t possess ideal size for a modern day hurler (he’s only 6’0”), but his repertoire includes a good three pitch mix (fastball, slider, change) that he throws for strikes. He throws from a three-quarter slot with a quick arm action, a mid-90s fastball, a late-breaking slider that gets whiffs, and a good change-up to keep lefties honest.

Although he sent on the seven-day IL last week, prior to his injury in early May, Middleton had a 4.95 ERA (1.70 WHIP) over 20.0 IP. That number includes 18 strikeouts, 3 home runs, and 13 walks.

That said, he was excellent on April 11, 2025, when he strike out five and allowed only one run over five innings.

Purple Row caught up with Middleton at spring training as he recounted what he’d worked on over the offseason and what he antici`pated in 2026 as he was on the eve of making his debut as a professional baseball player.

Middleton said he had some takeaways from his final year of college baseball — that would be his 2025 with the Eagles when he tallied 105.1 IP with a 2.31 ERA that included 122 strikeouts and just 25 walks.

“Just being yourself, having confidence, learning how to pitch, and going out there and winning games for your team,” Middleton said.

His offseason focus was the natural next step: pitching development.

To be specific, according to Middleton, “just pitch shapes, trying to dial everything in and be consistent in the zone and just efficiency pitching — throwing strikes.”

The focus, too, has been on his slider, a pitch that Middleton only threw as some 10% of his pitches.

“I think we’ll probably use it a little more this year,” he said.

Tied to that has been his early work with the Rockies new pitching staff. “It’s kind of been great, everybody on the new staff,” Middleton said. “It’s amazing to think everybody’s on the same page and just go out there and fill up the zone and put guys away.”

He’s also eager to embark on his professional career.

“It’s exciting,” he said of making his debut. “You know, it’s an honor to get to be able to do this and go out there and have fun.”

And his goals for 2026?

“Just stay healthy, go out there, and try to be the best version of me I can, and just have fun.”

Weekly Pebble Report: May 5th-11th

Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (5-1, 23-16 Overall)

The Albuquerque Isotopes continue to play a solid brand of winning baseball, taking five of six against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston Astros), and maintain a two-game lead atop the Pacific Coast League standings.  Albuquerque won a road series at Sugar Land for the first time, and it was also their first series win on the road against an Astros affiliate since taking three of four in Oklahoma City back in 2012. The Isotopes offense continues to produce as they launched 10 home runs in the series, their most ever in Sugar Land.

⬆️ Stock Up:Carrigg-ing On

Picking up where he left off as the reigning PCL Player of the Week, Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP), enjoyed another fantastic series in Sugar Land. Over five games, he slashed .320/.370/.600, going 8-for-25 with two home runs, a double, four RBI, and six runs scored. Additionally, he added another five stolen bases, bringing him to a season total of 24 bags. Carrigg also extended his hitting streak to 18 games, the longest active among all players in affiliated pro ball.  During that stretch, he is slashing .452/.506/.685 with four doubles, two triples, three homers, 18 RBI, and 14 steals. He has also reached base in 30-straight games now.

⬆️ Stock Up:I’ll have the Beef Welinton

Bullpen reinforcements are sometimes difficult to predict in Albuquerque, but Welinton Herrera (No. 17 PuRP) has continued to impress working out of the pen in his first year of Triple-A ball. The lefty made appearances in the Sugar Land series, working two innings each time. In those four innings, he allowed just one hit while striking out four against just one walk. In his 16.1 innings of work on the year, Herrera owns a 4.41 ERA, allowing runs in just four of his 12 outings while tallying 24 strikeouts against 13 walks. The Rockies need more left-handed relievers, and the prospects of the 22-year-old are getting brighter and brighter.

Upcoming:

The Isotopes are back home to host the Oklahoma City Comets (Los Angeles Dodgers). Notably, utility player Kiké Hernandez and right-handed pitcher Brusdar Graterol are beginning rehab assignments with the Comets en route to returning to the Dodgers.

Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats (5-1, 16-16 Overall)

A much-needed winning series against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets) helped to lift the Yard Goats up to .500 and back in the Eastern League fight. Hartford won three of their first four and then swept a Sunday double header.

⬆️ Stock Up:Roc’s Feather

Roc Riggio (no. 14 PuRP) has really hit his stride over the last few series and turned in an excellent performance against the Rumble Ponies. Riggio went 10-for-20 during the series with three doubles, three home runs, and six RBI. He had two three-hit games and had multiple hits in three of the five games he appeared in.

⬆️ Stock Up:Call of Juarez

Right-handed pitcher Victor Juarez has quietly been one of Hartford’s best relievers. Operating mostly in late innings, Juarez has a 1.69 ERA in 12 appearances with five saves. Juarez made three relief appearances against the Rumble Ponies. In 4.1 innings he gave up just one unearned run and one hit while striking out five batters with no walks.

Upcoming:

The Yard Goats look to keep the wins coming against the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox) at home this week in a series that includes their first Chivos de Hartford night of 2026.

High-A: Spokane Indians (4-2, 13-20 Overall)

The Spokane Indians are still figuring things out. Pitching—expected to be a strength—has struggled somewhat while the offense has had difficulty finding their footing in the Pacific Northwest. However, the Indians made some great progress this week. They finally won their first six-game series of the season with four wins against the Tri-City Dust Devils (Los Angeles Angels)

⬆️ Stock Up:Cox of the Rox

Jackson Cox (no. 16 PuRP) continues to show he’s recovered from his Tommy John surgery and is able to thrive with the limiters off by showing what made him worth a second round pick back in 2022. Cox made the longest start of his professional career against Tri-City and looked good doing it. Through seven complete innings he gave up just one earned run on one hit—a solo home run—while striking out nine batters for the second time this season.

⬆️ Stock Up:Roynier. Royfar. Roywherever you are.

Second baseman Roynier Hernandez went 7-for-19 against the Dust Devils with three RBIs, two walks, and just one strikeout. His best performance came on Wednesday when he went 3-for-4 and hit a walk-off RBI single to deliver the Indians victory.

Upcoming:

The Indians are off to Oregon to face the Hillsboro Hops (Arizona Diamondbacks). The Hops currently sitting at the bottom of the Northwest League standings.

Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (4-2, 19-14 Overall)

The Fresno Grizzlies continue to excel as the season rolls on with a record over .500 and a fantastic series against the reigning champion San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants). The Grizzlies took four games of the six and scored at least eight runs in each win. The pitching has been quietly solid, but it’s the offense that is surging. Many players in the Grizzlies lineup are hitting with an OPS close to or above .900 so far this season.

⬆️ Stock Up:The Return of the Roldy Brito Award for Weekly Excellence at Being Roldy Brito

The ever-exciting Roldy Brito (no. 11 PuRP) put together another strong week, going 10-for-28 with a double, a home run, four RBIs, two stolen bases, and two walks to only one strikeout. Brito kicked off the week going 4-for-5 against the Giants and had at least one hit in every other game during the series.

⬆️ Stock Up:Cam you dig it?

Wake Forest outfielder Cam Nelson was one of the more intriguing picks the Rockies made in the 2025 draft. Only a sophomore and having missed playing time due to injury, the Rockies drafted Nelson in the fifth round and paid above slot value to get him into the organization. Nelson’s bat is starting to come around, but where he has really shined is displaying an ability to get on base. With a .403 on-base percentage he has walked a whopping 26 times. He also has impressive speed with four triples and nine stolen bases.

Nelson had one of his best series of his young career against the Giants, going 9-for-26 with two doubles, a triple, a stolen base, and four RBIs.

Upcoming:

The Grizzlies head home to host the Visalia Rawhide (Arizona Diamondbacks) with hopes to continue their winning ways.

Arizona Complex League: ACL Rockies (4-1, 6-1 Overall)

The ACL Rockies were dominant in their first full week of Complex League play, scoring at least five runs in all of their wins. The only loss they suffered is against the ACL Royals (Kansas City Royals) with whom they are tied for the best record in the Complex League.

⬆️ Stock Up:Kamuel is smokin’

18-year-old infielder Kamuel Villar is one of two members of the Rockies’ 2025 international class to make it stateside for the Arizona Complex League this season. In his last five games, playing a mix of second and third base, Villar went 6-for-12 with a double, a triple, five RBIs, five walks to two strikeouts, and two stolen bases.

⬇️ Stock Down:Penalized

20-year-old right-handed pitcher Eliezer Pena—a member of the 2023 international class—made two starts for the ACL Rockies this week. While he did strike out nine batters over 6.1 total innings, he also gave up nine runs (eight earned) on 13 hits and six walks.

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The Phillies and Red Sox have a lot in common this season. After making the playoffs in 2025, both teams made offseason moves that weren’t embraced by many fans. And both got off to poor starts that resulted in an early season firing of the manager.

Another thing the teams have in common: They’ve gotten disappointing play from their All-Star shortstops. Trea Turner is off to a poor start this season and has been worth negative WAR (yet he’s somehow avoided receiving too much scrutiny) while his counterpart on the Red Sox isn’t faring much – if any – better.

That’s nothing new for Trevor Story since his career with the Red Sox has mostly been a disappointment.

He was a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger winner for the Colorado Rockies, and upon hitting free agency, cashed in with a six-year/$140 million deal with the Sox. Spending big money on Rockies players has always been a “buyer beware” situation, because it’s often unclear how much their numbers have been aided by the thin air of Colorado.

Story’s numbers indeed took a significant downturn upon leaving the Rockies, but a large part of that was due to poor health. In his first three seasons in Boston, Story was limited to 163 games. In 2025, he finally managed to stay healthy for a full season, and while his offense wasn’t what it was in Colorado, he hit 25 home runs.

Apparently, there was a lack of consensus among Red Sox management whether Story’s upturn was sustainable. Manager Alex Cora believed in Story, and continued to bat him high in the lineup, while people in the front office thought the underlying metrics showed that a drop off was coming.

While that was far from the only reason Cora was fired, it certainly didn’t help his case when Story got off to a poor start to the season.

Story has been dropped from second in the lineup, and now typically finds himself batting fifth. But the change in positions hasn’t helped his offense turnaround. After a bad month of April, Story has been even worse in May, putting up a .478 OPS and he hasn’t hit a home run since April 15th.

Pennant year song battle

Nobody can stop It’s a Mistake! The Men at Work tune defeated I Get Around by 2Pac to hold the title for another week.

This week’s contender is also from 1983. With both the Phillies and Red Sox in similar situations at the moment, I figured You and I by Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gale would be appropriate:

If the song sounds familiar to younger readers, that’s because it was covered on both Glee and 30 Rock.

Vote for the winner now:

Non-Phillies thought

It is truly amazing how quickly the Sixers and Flyers squandered all the goodwill from their first-round playoff victories. You can partly excuse the Flyers who were just happy to be there and were clearly outmatched by the Carolina Hurricanes. But the Sixers get no excuses, as they’re a veteran team whose performance in game three was awful, while game four was one of the most shameful rollovers in team history.

I figured GM Daryl Morey and coach Nick Nurse were safe after beating the Celtics in round one, but seeing the Sixers get embarrassed like that might prompt changes. Then again, I don’t think anything will improve too dramatically as long as Josh Harris owns the team.

Additional thought about the series

The scheduled pitchers for Thursday’s game are Jesus Luzardo and Ranger Suarez, which should get some fans feeling a certain way. This past offseason, with Suarez a free agent, and Luzardo hitting the market the year after, it seemed unlikely that the Phillies would be able to retain both of them.

They chose Luzardo, signing him to a lucrative extension shortly after Suarez left for the Red Sox as a free agent.

The early results are not good for the Phillies. Luzardo can apparently be only very good or very bad in any given start, and he’s had more bad outings than good ones this season. Meanwhile, Ranger has a 2.77 ERA, although he’s also had his share of inconsistency. Oddly, in every one of his starts, he’s either given up zero or four runs.

It also doesn’t help that the rookie who replaced Ranger in the rotation, Andrew Painter, has also been bad lately. But if you want to avoid a team getting too old – as many fans claim they want – then at some point, you have to replace veterans with younger players, and often times, you’re going to have to deal with some growing pains.

It’s obviously too early to cast final judgement on the Phillies decision, but I do suggest Phillies fans not forget that Suarez has yet to maintain good health and effectiveness over a full season. I appreciated the guy, but I won’t miss the annual reports about his back bothering him.

Suarez is also two years older than Luzardo, and there are many who believe his stuff will not age well.

For the Phillies sake, let’s hope that on Thursday, Ranger has one of those four-run outings, while Luzardo can be in “very good” mode.

I’m a little late to this project, but let’s see the standout performers from the first month(plus) of Guardians’ minor league baseball action:

Triple-A Columbus – Hitters:
Cooper Ingle, C – 223 wRC+, 19.5/28.6 K/BB%, .315 ISO
Angel Genao, SS – 157 wRC+, 17.2/6.9%, .296 ISO
Stuart Fairchild, OF – 154 wRC+, 19.4/15.8%, .202 ISO
Kody Huff, C – 151 wRC+, 17.7/13.6 K/BB%, .224 ISO
Maick Collado, 1B/3B – 150 wRC+, 8.1/2.7 K/BB%, .206 ISO
Kahlil Watson, OF – 141 wRC+, 26.7/20.6 K/BB%, .265 ISO
Juan Brito – 138 wRC+, 15.6/13.54 K/BB%, .250 ISO

Analysis: There are some pretty impressive hitters in this bunch. Primarily, I wonder how long the team will wait to get Ingle and Watson their shots at impacting the major league roster. Watson still whiffs a bit too much, but every other number looks sustainable. Genao probably doesn’t get a shot until next season, but all his numbers so far look insane – EXCEPT for that near 60% groundball rate. If he starts lifting the ball just a little more – watch out. He’s still likely the organization’s shortstop of the future… or an amazing trade chip… Collado’s numbers are not sustainable, but it is fun he has had such a great first 37 plate appearances in Columbus. Kody Huff might be the most interesting name to watch here, as he seems to have made some significant hitting adjustments, and his catching gets rave reviews. Fairchild may get a shot to replace Angel Martinez at some point if Angel doesn’t stop chasing everything out of the zone he gets thrown. Brito has yet to get any outfield reps this year, however, so he is looking like an injury-replacement only so far. He doesn’t need to see second base again, but his bat still looks like it could be an asset in the bigs if given time.

Pitchers:
Austin Peterson, RHP – 1.69 ERA, 4.30 FIP, 8.44/2.53 K/BB/9
Rorik Maltrud, RHP – 2.08 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 6.75/2.60 K/BB/9

Analysis: Peterson has seen the usual walk tic-up of a pitcher going to Triple-A, but I’d expect him to lower that rate and show himself to be a competent fifth starter, with a solid groundball rate. Maltrud may become a solid long reliever, but I’m not sure that low of a K-rate is able to make him a major league option. Side note – Codi Heuer has a decent ERA that does not look at all sustainable, and should be the first roster spot to give way if the team wants to add a player at some point. Also, Daniel Espino has had a rough couple weeks, but I believe in that kid to figure it out. Still striking out 11 batters per 9.

Double-A Akron – Hitters:
Ralphy Velazquez, 1B/LF – 146 wRC+, 16.9/14.1 K/BB/9, .192 ISO
Jake Fox, OF – 144 wRC+, 18.5/22.2 K/BB/9, .067 ISO

Analysis: Velazquez has yet to consistently tap into his power. When that happens, he will quickly make his way to Columbus. Fox’s wRC+ is mostly a mirage, but he has fringe major league hitter potential, still.

Pitchers:
Justin Campbell, RHP – 0.00 ERA, 1.96 FIP, 11.25/2.25 K/BB/9.
Carter Rustad, RHP – 1.00 ERA, 3.32 FIP, 11/3.5 K/BB/9.
Jack Jasiak, RHP – 3.32 ERA, 3.50 FIP, 11.37/2.37 K/BB/9.
Caden Favors, RHP – 3.52 ERA, 5.63 FIP, 8.8/4.5 K/BB/9.
Khal Stephen, RHP – 3.82 ERA, 4.29 FIP, 10.09/4.64 K/BB/9.

Analysis: Cheating a little by putting Campbell here, who has had just one start at Akron, but he is the most exciting arm of this bunch. I don’t know what his innings limits look like, but he could force the issue for a promotion sooner rather than later if he keeps this up. Rustad and Jasiak look like usable relievers who deserve a Columbus promotion at some point. Favors and Stephen have both struggled with walks. I would guess Stephen gets the walks under control in the month to come and makes his way to Triple-A, but things are much less sure for Favors.

High-A Lake County – Hitters:
Bennett Thompson, C – 182 wRC+, 21.9/30.2 K/BB%, .231 ISO
Aaron Walton, OF – 147 wRC+, 25/9 K/BB%, .245 ISO
Dean Curley, SS – 140 wRC+, 26.8/27.6 K/BB%, .153 ISO
Jaison Chourio, OF – 139 wRC+, 17.6/17.6 K/BB%, .159 ISO
Ryan Cesarini, OF – 123 wRC+, 21.6/7.2, .267 ISO

Analysis: A team lacking power but with lots of contact and plate discipline. I am not sure how Thompson’s defense at catcher will hold up as he advances, but he can hit. Walton’s early returns have been great; just a question if he can keep the whiff low enough and the power high enough to maintain his value as a hitter. Chourio’s injury is unfortunate, but he was displaying the “average ML hitter” potential folks saw for him. Curley’s numbers will be determined on if he can reduce his K-rate and impact the ball at a high enough rate to help when his walk rate declines. Cesarini might be a fourth outfielder someday.

Pitchers:
Cam Schuelke, RHP – 0.63 ERA, 4.10 FIP, 7.53/3.14 K/BB/9.
Franklin Gomez, LHP – 1.95 ERA, 2.84 FIP, 10.41/2.60 K/BB/9.
Izaak Martinez, LHP – 2.51 ERA, 4.59 FIP, 9.42/3.14 K/BB/9.
Braylon Doughty, RHP – 3.44 ERA, 3.88 FIP, 9.82/2.45 K/BB/9.

Analysis:
Gomez and Doughty are very exciting starting pitching prospects. I’d like to see both brought up to Akron in June or July, at the latest, and I think BOTH have strong front of the rotation potential. Schuelke could be a fringe major league reliever with his unusual delivery, and Martinez should get a shot as a major league lefty out of the pen at some point.

Low-A Hill City – Hitters:
Anthony Martinez, 1B – 165 wRC+, 16.5/19.6 K/BB%, .250 ISO
Robert Arias, OF – 148 wRC+, 15.7/18.1 K/BB%, .155 ISO
Jose Pirela, OF – 148 wRC+, 26.7/11.5 K/BB%, .205 ISO
Luis De La Cruz, 1B/3B – 135 wRC+, 28.6/14.3 K/BB%, .083 ISO
Juneiker Caceres, OF – 121 wRC+, 10.7/14.3 K/BB%, .140 ISO

Analysis: Martinez and Arias are such exciting hitters, folks. Wow. Pay attention for their progress this season. Pirela and De La Cruz have some reasons to doubt their output so far, but, hey, better to hit than not to hit. Caceres is dealing with an injury, but I expect big things from him and from Dauri Fernandez in the months ahead.

Pitchers:
Luke Fernandez, RHP – 1.83 ERA, 3.27 FIP, 10.07/5.49 K/BB/9.
Harrison Bodendorf, LHP – 2.01 ERA, 1.85 FIP, 12.49/2.22 K/BB/9.
Nelson Keljo, LHP – 2.08 ERA, 3.28 FIP, 12.46/2.60 K/BB/9.
Jervis Alfaro, RHP – 3.13 ERA, 2.99 FIP, 12.91/3.13 K/BB/9.
Aidan Major, LHP – 3.72 ERA, 3.94 FIP, 8.84/4.66 K/BB/9.

Analysis: Some strong pitching in Hill City. Bodendorg, Keljo and Major are the starters in this group, and Bodendorf will be especially knocking on the door for Lake County soon. Bodendorf is 6’5 and Keljo is 6’4, so that’s some exciting physical talent to dream on. Fernandez’s numbers seem somewhat unsustainable, but Alfaro is gonna head to Lake County sooner rather than later.

Overall, it’s been an encouraging beginning for the Guardians’ farm system. Let’s hope this solid development work continues and even improves in the months ahead. Let us know which prospect you’re most excited about from the list above in the comments below.

The Cincinnati Reds have a leadoff problem, and they’re well aware of it.

As TJ Friedl struggled through one of the worst stretches of his (or anyone’s) career, we watched as manager Terry Francona lightly shuffled his lineup over the weekend as the Reds eschewed their recent 8-game losing streak and managed to win the series over Houston on Sunday. Will Benson, who has been hot enough to carve out a more permanent role in the lineup against RHP, was moved to the top of the order, and Spencer Steer – himelf on a heater since a slow start – jumped up to hit 2nd.

Right now, Reds leadoff hitters own just a 65 wRC+ collectively this season. That’s the worst mark among leadoff hitters in the sport. They rank last in slugging (.272) and last in OPS (.576), too.

It’s an especially impermissable problem given that the last few weeks have seemingly unlocked several hitters who profile as guys who could actually drive some guys in, if given the chance. Steer has hit .274/.346/.504 (.850) since a brutal 5-game stretch to start the season. Nate Lowe stepped in and showed that his bat simply has to be in the lineup against RHP, and the back of his baseball card over the last 8 years show that, too. Geno Suarez was brought in for big hits in big spots, and he’ll be back within a week if all things go according to plan on his rehab stint. And, there’s Sal Stewart, who despite his recent slump remains a bat you simply dream about having up with runners on base and in position to score.

Benson may be fine as a mix and match guy up top for the time being. He’s been prone to streakiness, and when he’s hot he’s as hot as anyone, and riding that right now may not be the worst decision of all time. However, I just can’t get over the fact that the Reds, right now, have a 24 year old star with 40/80 upside, elite speed when given the chance to run, and an on-base percentage that’s above league average who they just…won’t…give the most PA possible.

When Mike Trout first cut into the big leagues, he was a leadoff hitter, once stealing 49 bags while also swatting 30 homers – he also twice got over 700+ PA in those early years. It was a similar story with Hanley Ramirez when he first broke in with the Marlins, twice swiping 50+ bags in 700+ PA seasons, with one featuring an elite 145 OPS+. As early as tomorrow, the Atlanta Braves are going to activate Ronald Acuña, Jr. off the injured list, and when they do, they’re going to the originator of the 40/70 club in his customary spot atop the order.

Elite power/speed guys simply do not show up often. We’ve seen enough of Elly through his early career to know exactly how devastating he can be when he gets on base, especially when there’s a lineup behind him capable of buying him time to get to 2B. He can score from anywhere, as the Milwaukee Brewers well know, and other teams across the baseball landscape sure seem to be emphasizing that those skills deserve as many chances as they can get each and every day. After all, the top spot in the lineup comes to the plate a good number of times more often over the course of a full season than does the #3 spot.

The Reds offense needs a spark in the worst of ways. They’ll get a little of that when Geno gets back, surely, assuming Francona doesn’t bottle it by giving too many PA to others across the infield. In Elly, they’ve got the single biggest spark in the game…if they could just figure out how best to deploy him.

Right up top, I say. Hit Elly De La Cruz in the leadoff spot.

A trio of Giants outfielders celebrated a big win over the Dodgers on Monday night in a very bizarre manner.

Just after San Francisco took down Los Angeles, 9-3, at Dodger Stadium, Jung Hoo Lee, Drew Gilbert and Harrison Bader all met up in centerfield and thrusted on each other.

pic.twitter.com/wsIHUdvLGC

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 12, 2026

Broadcast cameras captured the three wrapping their arms around one another and gyrating together multiple times.

Bader and Gilbert really seemed to get a kick out of it, though at one point, Lee sure looked like he was ready for it to be over.

The guys then bolted into the infield without creating any further viral scenes.

The postgame party, while unique, was deserved. Not only did the scuffling Giants beat up their rival, but the evening marked Bader’s first game back since he suffered a hamstring injury in March.

Bader told reporters following the win that everything felt “good,” and he’s “excited to go out there and help this team win” moving forward.

If that all comes with further buzzworthy moments from the centerfielder and his teammates, it certainly seems social media users won’t mind it one bit.

But others online were outraged by the X-rated act.

“Now watch Little Leaguers wanna imitate that s–t,” wrote Carlos Betancourt on X. “Even if we lose, I would sit all 3 players tonight for doing that on live TV and embarrassing the franchise.”

“@NBCSGiants Come on guys you’re high paid professionals and you shouldn’t hump each other like that!” wrote another fan on the social media platform. “All games televised with young viewers and others that can be offended! I will not be surprised if MLB says something along with a fine or suspension!”

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Is it time to hit the panic button?

That’s what California Post baseball writers Dylan Hernandez and Jack Harris are debating on the latest episode of the Dodgers Post podcast.

After the Dodgers’ Monday night loss to the San Francisco Giants, the pair analyzed the Dodgers’ continued skid over the last several weeks, and how much of what they’ve seen lately has raised bigger-picture concerns about the club’s World Series aspirations.

They also dive into Shohei Ohtani’s slump specifically, and try to identify why the four-time MVP has not been able to snap out of what is now a weeks-long funk.

Later, they break down Roki Sasaki’s most recent start, and whether the young right-hander is making enough to progress to warrant remaining in the Dodgers’ rotation moving forward this year.

They also discuss Mookie Betts’ return from the IL, and how much of an impact he will be able to making on the team’s slumping lineup.

As always, they then finish with their weekly predictions, and look ahead to the rest of this week’s series with the Giants.

All that and more on this latest edition of Dodgers Post.

The Astros hit a new low with Monday’s 3-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners. They are now 10 games below .500 after crossing the quarter pole of the season on a three-game losing streak.

That skid comes on the heels of a 16-game stretch in which the Astros managed to play .500 baseball against the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers despite an injured list as long as a CVS receipt.

There’s been some good and a lot of bad from the first 42 games of the season, so let’s hand out some awards.

MVP- Yordan Alvarez

After a lost 2025 season in which he posted a career-low 117 OPS+ over 199 plate appearances, Alvarez has largely regained the form that made him one of baseball’s most feared hitters, despite a recent slump to begin May.

Alvarez slashed .356/.462/.737 in March and April to earn American League Player of the Month honors for the first time since September 2023. He has followed that up with a .184/.262/.289 line in May, but his presence in a depleted Astros lineup continues to elevate the hitters around him.

Even with a rough 10-game stretch in May, Alvarez’s 1.044 OPS ranks second in baseball, and he is tied for fifth in home runs.

Most importantly for the Astros, Alvarez has started all 42 games this season.

LVP- Yainer Diaz

Three years ago, Diaz looked like a future All-Star. Now, he looks like a potential non-tender candidate if things don’t turn around. Diaz, who landed on the IL 10 days ago with a left oblique strain, was performing at a sub-replacement level before the injury. The 27-year-old slashed .238/.255/.347 with a 67 OPS+ in 26 games, and his OPS has declined from .846 in 2023 to .766 in 2024 and .701 this season.

Diaz’s struggles at the plate wouldn’t be nearly as glaring if he were playing well defensively, but he has continued to regress in that area as well. 

In 2024, Diaz’s first season as the Astros’ primary catcher, he ranked in the top quartile in blocks above average and caught stealing above average, though he was below average in framing and pop time, per Baseball Savant. He declined in three of those four metrics last season and has regressed in all four this year, even after the Astros brought in new catching coach Tim Cossins from the Baltimore Orioles.

Cy Young- Spencer Arrighetti

Arrighetti opened the season in Sugar Land due to a numbers crunch, but the move allowed him to stay on a starter’s routine and hit the ground running when he joined the Astros rotation on April 15. He struck out 10 Rockies in his debut while allowing just one run over six innings. Arrighetti won his first four starts before defensive miscues caught up with him Saturday in Cincinnati.

The 26-year-old is 4-1 with a 1.88 ERA. While his 13.6% walk rate has prevented him from pitching deeper into games, Arrighetti has still completed five innings in each of his five starts, which has been crucial for a team missing three starters from its Opening Day rotation.

Opposing hitters are 4 for 33 with 20 strikeouts with a 50.9% whiff rate against Arrighetti’s curveball this season, and they are just 2 for 16 against his sweeper. 

Arrighetti’s 2025 season was torpedoed by a fractured thumb suffered in an April batting practice accident. After returning to make five starts in August, Arrighetti was shut down in September due to elbow inflammation. He’s bounced back nicely, even while starting the season in Sugar Land. 

Cy Yuck- Brian Abreu

Abreu went from closer looking to cash in after the season to unusable in the span of just a few weeks. 

He became the first Astros reliever since 2017 to allow at least one earned run in six straight games in the same season, and while he’s only been scored on twice in the eight outing since, everything has felt like a struggle

Abreu has a 9.24 ERA through 14 games this season, and his strikeout rate has dipped from 35.5% to 30.3% while his walk rate has shot up to 24.2% from 10.5%, and his fastball velocity is down 2.3 MPH. 

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The New York Mets will look to build on a successful road trip as they return home to face the Detroit Tigers tonight.

New York’s offense has a great chance to pounce on struggling right-hander Jack Flaherty, so I’m backing the Mets to take care of business at Citi Field. 

Let’s break down this matchup and take a look at my free Tigers vs. Mets predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, May 12.

Who will win Tigers vs Mets today: Mets (-145)

Jack Flaherty has failed to go longer than five innings in any of his last four starts, posting a 7.71 ERA over that stretch.

Command has been an issue for Flaherty all season, averaging 6.9 walks per nine innings, while hitters have largely stayed patient against the Detroit Tigers' starter, producing just a 24% chase rate against him.

The New York Mets may be struggling on offense, but they have chances to capitalize on the free passes and pressure Flaherty early. 

On the other side, Freddy Peralta continues to deliver steady outings, allowing just one earned run over his last 11 innings pitched. He draws a favorable matchup against the Tigers, who are averaging just 2.83 runs over their last six games.

This sets up as a great opportunity for the Mets to secure a much-needed win.

COVERS INTEL: The Tigers have hit line drives on just 22.4% of four-seam fastballs — a pitch Peralta throws 54% of the time.

Tigers vs Mets Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-108)

Any offensive outburst for the Mets is likely to come before the Tigers' bullpen enters the fray, which was given a much-needed rest day on Monday following a reliever-by-committee approach on Sunday Night Baseball in Kansas City.

I have even less faith in the Tigers generating runs off of Peralta, who has held Detroit hitters to a lifetime OPS of .419, and both teams are also a combined 6–14 to the O/U in their last 10 games.

Tigers vs Mets odds

• Moneyline: Tigers +125 | Mets -145
• Run line: Tigers +1.5 (-170) | Mets -1.5 (+140)
• Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+112) | Under 7.5 (-108)

Tigers vs Mets trend

Detroit is 0-4 SU in Flaherty’s last four starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Tigers vs. Mets.

How to watch Tigers vs Mets and game info

Tigers vs Mets latest injuries

Tigers vs Mets weather

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Andrew Joseph Ewing attended Springboro High School in Springboro, Ohio, where he was a multi-sport athlete who also played football. A baseball rat, his skill on the diamond quickly began outpacing his skill on the gridiron, earning him All-Conference First Team honors in his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons and All-Southwestern Ohio Conference honors in his junior season. He was named named the 2023 Great Western Ohio Conference Player of the Year in his senior season after winning the triple crown, hitting .464 with four home runs and 37 RBI.

The Mets had a selection in the free agent compensation round of the 2023 MLB Draft, which they obtained when Jacob deGrom signed with the Texas Rangers, and with it, they selected shortstop A.J. Ewing. The youngster had a commitment to the University of Alabama but forwent it when he and the organization agreed to a $675,000 signing bonus, roughly $200,000 above the MLB-assigned slot value of $483,000 for the 134th overall pick. He was assigned to the FCL Mets to close out the summer and appeared in seven games with them, hitting .286/.524/.357 in 14 at-bats with 1 double, 1 stolen base in as many attempts, and 5 walks to 6 strikeouts.

He remained in the Florida Complex League when the 2024 season began and got off to a hot start there. In 19 games, he hit .254/.422/.571 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, 5 stolen bases in 6 attempts, and 19 walks to 22 strikeouts. He was promoted to the Single-A St. Lucie Mets in June and spent the rest of the season in the Florida State League, hitting .228/.345/.344 in 71 games with 10 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs, 8 stolen bases in 13 attempts, and drew 44 walks to 87 strikeouts. All in all, he appeared in 90 games in his first full professional season and hit a cumulative .233/.361/.390 with 13 doubles, 3 triples, 10 home runs, 13 stolen bases in 19 attempts and drew 63 walks to 109 walks.

The 20-year-old Ewing began the 2025 season in St. Lucie, but he did not stay there long. In 18 games, he hit an astounding .400/.506/.615 with 3 doubles, 4 triples, 1 home run, 14 stolen bases in 16 attempts, and drew 15 walks to 10 strikeouts, earning a promotion to High-A Brooklyn at the end of April. Ewing hit the ground running and thrived in an environment where many players—especially left-handed hitters like him—have trouble. In 88 games for the Cyclones, Ewing hit .288/.387/.388 with 16 doubles, 4 triples, 2 home runs, 44 stolen bases in 51 attempts, and he drew 46 walks to 66 strikeouts.

He was promoted to Double-A Binghamton in mid-August and finished the 2025 season there, hitting .339/.371/.430 in 28 games with 7 doubles, 2 triples, 12 stolen bases in 14 attempts, and he drew 7 walks to 29 strikeouts. All in all, Ewing hit a combined .315/.401/.429 in 124 games between Single-A, High-A, and Double-A, hitting 26 doubles, 10 triples, 3 home runs, stealing 70 bases in 81 attempts, and drawing 68 walks to 105 strikeouts.

Ewing remained in Binghamton to start the 2026 season, but as had been the case over the prior two seasons, he did not stay for long. In 18 games, the 21-year-old hit .349/.481/.571 with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 12 stolen bases in 13 attempts, and drew 17 walks to 15 strikeouts. He was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse on April 27 and did not miss a beat. In 12 games with the Syracuse Mets, he hit .326/.392/.435 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 0 home runs, 5 stolen bases in as many attempts, and drew an even 5 walks to 5 strikeouts.

A natural right-hander who was taught how to hit as a left-hander by a father when he was a kid, Ewing stands square at the plate with a slight crouch, holding his hands high and wrapping his bat behind his head at 9:30. He swings with a slight leg lift or toe tap timing mechanism and has an extremely minimal load and weight transfer.

Ewing dedicated a lot of time and effort to working out and adding muscle mass to his 5’10” frame over the 2025 offseason, but even before making a dedicated effort, he was capable of making loud contact with his long, whippy stroke. As a 19-year-old, he averaged an 88 MPH exit velocity with a high-water mark of 108 MPH in 151 recorded batted ball events in the Florida State Leagu, and now as a 21-year-old, he averaged an 89.2 MPH exit velocity with a high-water mark of 108.8 MPH in 41 batted ball events in the International League. In the interim, where concrete data does not publicly exist, scouts and evaluators have remarked about how balls put in play off his bat pass the “eye” and “ear” tests.

Aiding in his ability to make loud contact and put well-struck balls in play, Ewing makes excellent swing decisions, not just relative to his youth and experience, but in general. For his career, he has a 3:5 walk to strikeout ratio, with a cumulative 14.4% walk rate and 21.8% strikeout rate; over the course of his time in in Double-A, he drew 24 walks in 213 plate appearances to 44 strikeouts, a 11.3% walk rate and 20.7% strikeout rate, and during his time in Triple-A, he drew 5 walks in 51 plate appearances to 5 strikeouts, a 9.8% walk rate and 9.8% strikeout rate.

Ewing rarely swings at pitches that he can’t hit, nor does he swing at everything for the sake of making contact. He goes with pitches, especially fastballs, spraying the ball to all fields. In the totality of 2025, he pulled the ball at a 40.8% rate, went back up the middle at a 21.2% rate, and went to the opposite field at a 38.0% rate. In his month-plus with Binghamton and Syracuse this season, he pulled the ball at a 38.9% rate, went back up the middle at a 30.0% rate, and went to the opposite field at a 31.1% rate. In Binghamton earlier in the season, he had a 46.9% Pull%, 28.6% Cent%, and 24.5% Oppo%, but in an almost equal amount of games in Syracuse, he had a 29.3% Pull%, 31.7% Cent%, and 39.0% Oppo%.

Speed is Ewing’s carrying tool, and its influence is felt all over his game. One of the fastest sprinters in the Mets’ minor league system, he posts plus speeds out of the box, manufacturing singles busting out of the box and pushing the envelope stretching singles into doubles. As a result, Ewing has maintained a .372 BABIP for the totality of his minor league career, running a .430 BABIP during his time in Double-A and a .366 BABIP during his time in Triple-A. With that, Ewing has developed a style of hitting that maximizes his speed and takes advantage of that high BABIP. In Double-A Binghamton, he maintained a 25.9% line drive rate, 51.5% ground ball rate, 22.6% fly ball rate, and in Triple-A, he maintained a 21.1% line drive rate, 44.4% ground ball rate, 34.4% fly ball rate.

Ewing’s speed is also an asset on defense. Drafted as a shortstop and still technically listed as one despite never playing the position as a professional, Ewing has primarily shifted into center field, though he occasionally plays in a corner and every once in a while gets penciled in at second base as well. In the outfield, he is an above-average, borderline plus fielder, showing plenty of speed and range. He closes in on the ball well, is exceptionally sure-handed, and gets rid of the ball quickly and accurately with a strong arm. Occasionally, he will flub a play by misreading the ball or airmailing a throw, but Ewing has already developed into a legitimate above-average defensive center fielder with the potential to truly be plus with more time and experience out there.

The Dodgers acquired a recognizable name in a minor trade with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Just don’t expect to see him on the Dodgers’ MLB roster for now.

A week after he was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks, five-year MLB veteran Alek Thomas was dealt to the Dodgers in exchange for 17-year-old prospect Jose Requena, both teams announced.

Thomas, 26, boasts ample big-league experience, having played 448 games with the Dbacks since his debut in 2022. However, he is just a career .230 hitter, and was DFA’d last week –– even with a minor-league option remaining –– after starting this season with a .181 average.

The Dodgers will likely exercise Thomas’ minor-league option now that they’ve acquired him. According to a source, Thomas is not reporting to the club’s MLB roster following Tuesday’s trade.

Instead, it appears Thomas is effectively replacing Michael Siani –– who was DFA’d in a corresponding move Tuesday to clear a 40-man roster spot –– as left-handed hitting outfield depth in their minor-league ranks.

He offers some protection in center field, specifically, where he has excellent speed and a highly-touted glove.

Whether he can improve enough offensively to ever make big-league contributions for the Dodgers, however, is less clear.

Thoams isn’t much of a power threat, with just 31 career home runs. He has never had a season with a .300 on-base percentage, thanks in part to a walk rate that is almost half of the MLB average. And the last two years, his strikeout rate has jumped to roughly 25%.

Still, the Dodgers saw enough to take a flier on him, execute a rare intradivison trade, and stash him in their organizational ranks.

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