OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 21: Gavin Gallaher #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during the ninth inning against the Oklahoma Sooners in Game 2 of the NCAA College World Series baseball finals at Charles Schwab Field on June 21, 2026 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Saturday saw the beginning of the 2026 MLB Draft. After a season that saw them get a win away from a national championship, the North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team are likely to see several players picked in this year’s edition. For example, Owen Hull (#67), Jake Schaffner (#75), Ryan Lynch (#98), Jason DeCaro (#133), and Gavin Gallaher (#200) are all listed in MLB Pipeline’s top 250 ranked players eligible for the 2026 draft.
The MLB Draft can be a little harder to project than in other sports. In one way that’s true is in the players’ futures. Sure, other sports all have busts too, but in baseball even the best players need more seasoning in the minor leagues before making it to MLB. Some players won’t even make it to the majors at all. Figuring out what will happen in the couple years between when you draft a player and how they develop can be a bit of a different skill than in the NFL or NBA Drafts.
It can also be a little harder to predict just where the players go. With the MLB Draft rules and teams having only a certain amount of money to dole out among all their draftees, some teams go in with specific strategies that might lead to an unexpected selection. Plus, with so many players from high school and college, it can also just take one team having a differing opinion from the collective wisdom for a player to shoot up the board.
Recognizing all that, I still have to ask, what Tar Heel eligible for this year’s draft do you think will go on to the best MLB career?
Going by the aforementioned rankings, the Super Regional hero Hull is some people’s best bet. He hit .393 with a 1.115 OPS last season, so he certainly has the ability to hit, and that could translate to the professional level. I personally have a sneaky suspicion about Gallaher, though. With 12 home runs last season, he has a decent amount of power for a second baseman. While he’s not a blazing fast runner, he was successful on eight of nine stole base attempts last year too. I’m not sure if there’s ever going to be one particular thing that makes him standout, but I could see him turning into a perfectly good all-around MLB level player.
That’s my answer, but what about you? Put on your projection hat and guess which Tar Heel will have the best MLB career?
Jul 5, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (40) runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Heartbeat of Fenway
In a grueling 162-game season, conventional wisdom says players should keep an even keel and remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Willson Contreras defies that rule every single day, playing at a full, unapologetic boil. Since arriving in Boston via trade from the St. Louis Cardinals, he has been exactly what this franchise desperately needed: not only a right-handed power bat, but also the nexus where skills, passion, and elite production meet. He has been the undeniable heartbeat of the 2026 Boston Red Sox.
Anchoring the Offense and Defense
Contreras has stabilized the middle of the order and the infield all year. He has solidified first base, a position that was a black hole last season after Triston Casas got injured. Offensively, he has anchored the lineup as an elite run producer. When the rest of the lineup struggled throughout most of the early season, he kept the lights on. He’s having what will likely be a career year, and will almost certainly far surpass his previous high for home runs (24).
Batting Average: .285
Home Runs: 20
Runs Batted In: 61
OPS: An elite .921, ranking 10th in MLB
Playing for a Purpose
Contreras has not only shouldered the Red Sox offense, he has hefted up an entire country and carried it with him following the tragic, devastating earthquakes in his native Venezuela. Since that time, he has used his platform to advocate for his country. He’s channeled his raw grief into his game, hitting an emotional three-run homer then pounding his chest and helmet and shouting “Venezuela!” as he circled the bases. He’s personally collected relief contributions from fans outside Fenway Park and drawn the media spotlight to Venezuela again and again. And he wasn’t afraid to let us see him crying.
“I play to win, I don’t play to mess around, I don’t play to make friends on other teams.”
Tell it like it is, Willson. We saw that fire boil over in the recent bench-clearing incident against the Nationals, resulting in a seven-game suspension that was ultimately reduced to five games. (Personally, I was disappointed that Cade Cavalli’s suspension was equally reduced.) While Willson apologized, saying that he could have “handled [it] better,” and lumping it together with a benches-clearing against the Yankees earlier in the week, that intensity is the exact same fuel that powers his 440-foot home runs. You cannot decouple his high-leverage heroics from the emotion that drives them. He plays with his heart on his sleeve, and the team is better for it.
All-Star Bound and Home Run Derby Ready
Justice was finally served this week when Contreras was named to the All-Star team as a well-deserved replacement. Even better, he has accepted an invitation to the Home Run Derby. He will be the first Red Sox player to participate in fifteen years, looking to join David Ortiz as the only champions in franchise history. And he’s already dedicated all his upcoming home runs this season to Venezuela, so he’s really got something to swing for.
Though the recent contusion on his foot has him temporarily sidelined (alongside his suspension), he has said he’s not concerned about it. So expect him to be ready to mash at Citizens Bank Park.
Willson Contreras has given everything he’s got to Boston this season. I wanted to take a moment to put my own heart on my sleeve and show him that same love right back.
Let’s take this time to keep Venezuela in our hearts too. Even as life moves on, the recovery efforts still need help. If you can, please donate through the Red Sox Foundation. Do it for Willson.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 11: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during the 2026 MLB Draft at Pennsylvania Convention Center on July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Following what everyone would consider a failure of a year, Jay Johnson has been hard at work on returning LSU Baseball to the mountaintop as he’s done twice in his first five years. Helping him to that mountaintop were a few of the players that heard their name called on day 1 of the MLB Draft yesterday. While it’s been fairly clear which Tigers may be destined to advance their career to professional baseball, when they would be drafted was the big question. We got answers for three of those players, as Derek Curiel, Jake Brown, and Deven Sheerin each were drafted in the first four rounds.
While the additions from the transfer portal have been phenomenal, the core of the program is built through homegrown talent with recruiting classes. Classes that include players like Curiel and Brown. Unfortunately for those involved with building college baseball programs, the MLB Draft and it’s process can lead to a lot volatility. While coaches generally have an idea of who may or may not make it to campus, things can change quickly and that leads to ongoing questions about who will actually put on an LSU uniform.
Last year, Jay Johnson lost eight members of his recruiting class to the MLB Draft, including each of the top-6. Seven of those were gone by the end of the 4th round, which made for a really tough result for the Tigers and their crop of incoming freshman. Although a few guys like Omar Serna and Mason Braun burst on to the scene, hindsight makes you wonder what could have been.
So far in the 2026 Draft, things are looking far more promising for Johnson and co. Only three members of this year’s class were selected on day 1, which consists of the first four rounds. Shockingly, there are quite a few names still on the board that most expected to be gone by this point. Will they all make it to campus, absolutely not. But, if LSU is able to land one or two of the otherwise considered “longshots”, the future continues to look special for the program.
Current LSU players drafted
#5 – Derek Curiel by Pittsburgh Pirates (1st round, slot value $8,336,500)
After being one of the big surprises to pass on the draft and head to LSU in 2024, Curiel stepped on to campus and immediately became an impact player. He helped lead the Tigers to their 8th title as a freshman, then followed it up with another fantastic year after shifting from left to centerfield. In two seasons in Baton Rouge, Curiel hit .349 with a .452 on-base %. He drove in 101 RBIs and scored 131 runs. Pittsburgh is getting a super-athletic fielder and an elite bat-to-ball hitter. He struck out just 99 times in nearly 500 at-bats and also has incredible plate vision, drawing 87 walks.
#65 – Jake Brown by Seattle Mariners (2nd round, slot value $1,382,600)
Although his LSU career ended with a hamate injury in the back half of 2026, Jake Brown had a fantastic career as a Tiger. From forcing his way in to the starting lineup as a freshman in 2024, to becoming a top power bat in the SEC this past season, the junior became a fan-favorite. There was word that he was strongly considering a return to LSU for his senior season like Steven Milam, but when he showed up to the MLB Combine and scouts saw that he was one of the most athletic outfielders in the draft, the odds of 30 teams letting him slip back to campus were low. In his three season, Brown hit .304 with 28 homeruns and 110 RBIs. He was easily on pace to surpass 20 bombs in 2026, already having 16 when his season ended with 4 weeks left in the regular season. Seattle is getting an incredibly dynamic athlete that will be one of the fastest players on whatever team he’s on. He has a cannon for an arm, which is what got him drafted in the 19th round out of high school as a LHP. Brown will look to reunite with a former teammate and fellow member of LSU’s 2024 freshman class, Kade Anderson.
128 – Deven Sheerin by Philadelphia Phillies (4th round, slot $597,400)
Although Sheerin was a Tiger for two years, he only played in one season this past year. He bounced back from missing all of 2025 by being LSU’s most consistent pitcher this past season. He finished with a 4.78 ERA in 37.2 innings of work, striking out 58 along the way. Philadelphia is getting a massive, attitude driven competitor that looks like he’s trying to throw the baseball through his catcher. As a nightmare matchup against righties, he could become one of the top bullpen arms at the very least. With only 107.2 innings on his arm over the past three years, Sheerin is fresh and has even more projectability in his arsenal.
The past few weeks have been a rollercoaster for Schmidt’s projection. A month ago, he was considered a lock to be selected early in the draft. Then, after some poor interviews at the combine, he suddenly changed agents just a few weeks before the draft, which is never a good thing. Seemingly requesting a high number for his signing bonus, it will be interesting to see what the Guardians ended up giving him to convince him not to go to LSU.
#84 – RHP Jensen Hirschkorn by Atlanta Braves (3rd round, slot $973,700)
Hirschkorn, too, had his projection in question leading in to the draft. He had always been considered a lock to be drafted and sign, doubts about his signability started to spread over the past week. His number was said to be up as high as $4 million, but as you can see with the slot value above, it’s likely that the Braves were able to negotiate his price down. Scouts believe that he would become a 1st rounder after a few seasons in college had he chosen that route, so Atlanta most-certainly had to still pay up to convince him to sign.
#115 – OF Wessley Roberson by Miami Marlins (4th round, Marlins: $677,500)
Never really expected to make it college, Roberson was the first position player of the class to be selected. He’s lefty with good contact and was ranked #175 by ESPN.
Stayed tuned in with us at ATVS more nonstop coverage of day 2 with rounds 5-20!
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 11: Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred Jr. announces Jake Schaffner as the 20th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox during the 2026 MLB Draft presented by Nippon Express at Pennsylvania Convention Center on Saturday, July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Day 1 of the MLB Draft is in the books. If you’re internet smart, you know that the Red Sox completely blew it by going way underslot with their first round pick and then failing to use that savings by going overslot on either of their next two picks. If you’re actually smart, you know that attempting to evaluate an MLB draft any sooner than at least two years after draft day is for suckers. But it’s still fun.
Draft Day 2 kicks off at 11:30 with the fifth round. The Sox will have the 22nd pick in the fifth and sixth rounds (#156 and #185) and then the 21st pick in every subsequent round until the draft ends at round 20. Today’s proceedings are not on TV, but you can stream them on MLB.com
If you prefer to watch prospects who are already in the pipeline, the annual Futures Game kicks off noon and will be broadcast on NBC/Peacock. Franklin Arias will start at shortstop for the AL, while Anthony Eyanson will be in the pen.
Talk about players who won’t be in a big league lineup for years to come and whatever else you want in this space. Be good to each other and go Sox.
Los Angeles, - July 11: Pitcher Blake Snell #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers works out on the mound prior to a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Snell who is is currently on the 60-day injured list recovering from elbow surgery as he underwent an operation in mid-May to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The Dodgers’ starting rotation has been one of the best in all of baseball this year in spite of the numerous injuries they’ve dealt with.
Young right-handers Gavin Stone and River Ryan have yet to make their season debuts at the big-league level, while guys like Landon Knack are just now making their season debuts well over three months into the season. Tyler Glasnow has been out since early May, while former two-time Cy Young award winner Blake Snell has just one start at the big league level this year.
For Snell, who has amassed just three innings in 2026, it’s been another lost season so far, but his return is in the near distance. Sonja Chen of MLB.com notes that Snell threw live to hitters for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery, and the southpaw is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment after the break.
The next step for Snell should be a rehab assignment, manager Dave Roberts said, likely beginning the first weekend after the All-Star break.
“He says he feels better right now than he did when he returned before,” Roberts said of Snell, who has made only one start for the Dodgers this season after beginning the season on the injured list with left shoulder fatigue.
As for Glasnow, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register notes that there’s numerous setbacks where the right-hander feels good about throwing until he doesn’t. Glasnow was able to throw a fastball-only bullpen on Friday.
After tossing six innings in a loss on Saturday, Yoshinobu Yamamoto will not be pitching in this year’s All-Star game with his teammate Justin Wrobleski taking his spot on the NL All-Star team, per Chen and Jacob Gurvis of MLB.com.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Yamamoto said. “It would be better if I was able to pitch … because I [would] enjoy the atmosphere, and the whole show.”
Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic notes that Kiké Hernández is expected to return to the Dodgers following the All-Star break should all go well with his rehab. Hernández has appeared in just two games this season, collecting hits in all four at-bats including a home run.
Carson Coleman of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders delivers a pitch during a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on May 23, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Carson Coleman knew what was happening. It was hard not to know.
He was aware as he entered the game on June 5th at NBT Bank Stadium in New York against the Syracuse Mets that teammate and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders starting pitcher Brendan Beck had not allowed a hit through the first seven innings. Although the other relievers in the bullpen were trying to honor that baseball superstition of not mentioning a no-hitter, subconsciously they were talking about it.
Coleman got a groundout and two strikeouts in the bottom of the eighth to take the no-hitter into the ninth. There, he retired the first batter on a groundout, then walked the next batter. But his first pitch to Kevin Parada was hit on the ground to shortstop George Lombard Jr., who flipped to second baseman Jonathan Ornelas, who threw to first baseman Seth Brown for a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.
The seventh no-hitter in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre franchise history was complete.
“Doing it for two innings was definitely more nerve-racking,” Coleman said. “At the end of the day, you just go out and treat it like any other outing. It was awesome, exciting, especially for it to end on a double play and then celebrate with the guys and Beck. It was an awesome accomplishment for him.”
This was the second no-hitter Coleman was involved in as a member of the New York Yankees organization. On Sept. 28, 2022, he got the final three outs for the Double-A Somerset Patriots as they won the third and deciding game of the Eastern League Championship Series over the Erie Seawolves with a 15-0 victory.
That one was a little less stressful because of the lopsided margin. Starting pitcher Randy Vásquez went eight hitless innings with one walk and eight strikeouts. The Patriots scored nine runs in the bottom of the first inning to seize immediate control. Jasson Domínguez led the offense, going 3 for 4 with two walks, two home runs and six RBIs. Coleman entered in the top of the ninth and, although he hit the first batter he faced with a pitch, he got a fly out, popout and strikeout to end it.
“It had been a really good season for me that year. I was more excited to hopefully be the guy to finish our championship, let alone a no-hitter,” Coleman said. “I just went out there and made pitches the best that I can and hopefully it came to fruition. Obviously, there can be a jam-shot single which you, as a pitcher, that’s not a bad thing, but it’s a hit. That’s baseball. There’s a lot of luck to it.
“But the championship was a lot of fun, especially throwing to Austin Wells as the catcher. Me and Austin both signed in 2020 and he’s one of my best friends. To finish off the no-hitter with a strikeout in the championship game and embrace one of your best friends and celebrate with that team which was a great group of guys was a lot of fun. Probably the best baseball memory I have. But the one with Beck is still awesome.”
Randy Vasquez and Carson Coleman combined on a no-hitter AND Jasson Domínguez mashed two homers and plated six runs to give Somerset its first Eastern League championship: https://t.co/Yswu9vQkmvpic.twitter.com/idPWA495TO
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Coleman in the 33rd round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of Kentucky, but he did not sign with them. The Yankees signed him in 2020 as a nondrafted free agent and he pitched for Low-A Tampa in 2021 before splitting time in 2022 with High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset.
Coleman underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023 and missed all of that season. In 2024, he was taken in the Rule 5 Draft by the Texas Rangers. However, he never threw a pitch for them. At the end of his rehab from the right elbow surgery, he had a hard time recovering from workouts or bullpen sessions. It turned out he had a rare nerve entrapment issue and needed another surgery that put him out for 10 more months, causing him to miss all of the 2024 campaign as well.
When Texas didn’t keep him on its roster, the Yankees had first dibs since he was a Rule 5 selection and they took him back.
“I think they were excited to have me back, I was excited to be back,” Coleman said. “I love this organization, they’ve been more than great to me. I definitely am going to give my whole heart to this organization, I owe a lot to them. I’m trying to make them as proud as possible. Obviously I wish things would have worked out in Texas because it was a big-league opportunity. But it’s exciting to be back.”
Last season was the first time he was back on the mound since closing out that no-hitter in the championship game for Somerset in 2022. Coleman appeared in a combined 17 games at four levels and had two saves, one hold, a 1.59 ERA and struck out 15 in 17 innings.
“It was great. I felt so happy to be out on a baseball field,” Coleman said. “Rehab is lonely and it’s a long road. Going back out, I could have gone five innings and given up 40 runs and obviously would not have been happy, but that’s where my head was at. I was back on the mound and that was such a big accomplishment after two and a half years. And last year went really well. I only threw like 20 innings and gave up just a run or two. All things considered, that was really good getting back into it.
“First time in Triple-A this year. First normal spring training I’ve had since 2022. New level, new challenges, so it’s been a good experience. It’s been a dream.”
Since combining with Beck on the no-hitter in Syracuse, things have been spotty for Coleman. He retired all four batters he faced to get the win in relief at Indianapolis on June 23rd and threw two scoreless innings to earn a save against Norfolk on June 30th. But in six appearances and 8.2 innings, he has allowed seven runs and 11 hits with six walks and eight strikeouts.
For the season, Coleman is 1-0 with one hold, two saves, and a 4.73 ERA in 24 games. He has 32 strikeouts in 32.1 innings. He has inherited 18 runners and allowed just three to score. Since April 18th, none of the seven runners he has inherited have scored.
“Until the month of June, overall I felt like I was making some good steps,” Coleman said. “I’ve kind of been like a coin flip this last month. A lot of it is the game of baseball. After missing a lot of time due to injury sadly last year and early this year, I think a lot of it is getting my feet back underneath me. So I’ve kind of been mindful of that. Now it’s just learn from your failures and try to do better. Take it a day at a time and try to stack some good outings together. That’s the game of baseball, especially as a reliever.”
The best advice Coleman has received in baseball was to leave it in the showers, whether it was a good outing or a bad one.
“Despite any rough outing that’s discouraging, I know it’s part of the game,” Coleman said. “If you get two outings a week and they both don’t maybe go the way you want, it obviously can get you in the dumps sometimes. But I can’t even tell you what I did in my last outing.
“When I was in college or even now, in the role of a closer, say I had a save. I’d see my parents and they’d be so happy and like ‘Great job!’ and I’d be not in a bad mood, but even keel. They’d be like, ‘What’s wrong?’ and I’d be like, ‘It’s good, it’s over with, I’ve got to do it again in two days. Maybe even tomorrow.’ Move on, it’s not worth taking home with you.”
Coleman is continuing to work on the little things that make the difference between a good outing and a rough one.
“It’s a long year – 150, 162 games,” he said. “As a reliever, maybe you’re going to get 50 outings. Just try to make the most of those 50 outings as good as possible.”
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 11: Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred announces Jackson Flora as the fourth overall pick by the San Francisco Giants during the 2026 MLB Draft presented by Nippon Express at Pennsylvania Convention Center on Saturday, July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The MLB Draft is now a mega event, so welcome to Day 2! On Saturday, the Giants made their first five selections, taking UC Santa Barbara pitcher Jackson Flora with their first-round pick, prep pitcher Carson Bolemon with the compensation round pick they grabbed in the Patrick Bailey trade, prep pitcher Kade Waechter with their second-round pick, Rutgers outfielder Peyton Bonds (nephew of Barry) with their third-round selection, and Hofstra pitcher Carlos Martinez with their fourth-round choice.
Today, they’ll make 16 more selections, with the No. 15 pick in rounds 5-20.
You can follow all the action from yesterday and today by watching our draft tracker, which will give you info on all 21 picks. I’ll also have a few write-ups throughout the day. And if you want to watch the draft, well … here’s how to do so!
The Denver Post’s assigned spot in the Coors Field Press Box | Renee Dechert
I spent last weekend at Coors Field covering the San Francisco Giants-Colorado Rockies series for Purple Row, and I was glad I did because a lot happened.
On two days, Goodman’s father, Robert, threw batting practice to his son, who hoped to be invited to participate in the Home Run Derby on Monday. Goodman was ultimately not invited, but it was still pretty cool to watch a father-son BP. That said, you had to be at Coors Field to see it.
The clubhouse was open, and players answered questions as did manager Warren Schaeffer. Rockies’ 2022 first-round draft pick Gabriel Hughes (No. 12 PuRP) made his MLB debut.
Here’s Kyle Karros discussing his monster home run on Sunday. The controlled swagger is a beautiful thing.
Ultimately, the Rockies took the series from a struggling Giants team. They are becoming a better and even a fun baseball team. They have scored an MLB-high 132 runs in the eighth inning or later. How is that not the good stuff for baseball fans?
If the Denver Post had a reporter there to cover the series, I never saw them.
Since Patrick Saunders left The Post, a pastiche of offseason sports beat writers has been in the clubhouse finding material for some scattered feature stories. For example, Nate Peterson spent an afternoon talking with Marlins fans at Coors Field about their experiences with a losing team.
The Post now takes game recaps from the Associated Press. It’s not unusual for those recaps to go up the next day as opposed to immediately after the conclusion of a game, as they did before. I can’t speak to what happens on the road, but in Denver, the AP has two sports writers with one covering each Rockies game. When the game is over, the reporter goes to the winning clubhouse for comments.
Don’t get me wrong: I’m a big fan of The Post’s sportswriters, but writing occasional feature stories and farming out game recaps doesn’t seem like a best practice.
Besides, when the Denver Broncos report to training camp, and the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche start their early-season work, how much time will those beat writers devote to their occasional Rockies feature stories? Listen, I don’t blame them. These reporters really good at their jobs, and that involves working their beat.
When a beat writer works with a team, they spend a great deal of time with players, coaches, and front office staff developing relationships. They build trust and learn off-the-record information that allows them to write more-informed stories. But it’s in that work — so much of that tedious standing around and asking questions — that the real reporting happens.
I suspect if you were to ask a sports editor at The Post about this decision, they would tell you that the Rockies are a bad team, and they just don’t drive enough traffic. Hey, I write for a Rockies site. Believe me: The entire staff of Purple Row is very aware of how little traffic the Rockies have driven in recent years.
But that’s changing.
The Rockies are an exciting young team with stories driven by compelling players and a front office trying to rebuild connections. I can’t speak for The Post, but our site traffic is up, in part because of an improved team and in part because Purple Row is committed to covering the Rockies, even if our resources are considerably more limited than those available to The Post.
That said, even if the powers that be at the Denver Post decide that the Rockies baseball team doesn’t particularly matter, surely they would feel compelled to cover the business side of the Rockies. Like any professional sports franchise, the Rockies are a big business that navigates the uneasy relationship between taxpayer money and owner financial interests.
If nothing else, surely The Post would be interested in what will probably an MLB lockout when the season ends. Given that Rockies owner Dick Monfort is a key figure in trying to get a salary cap — something that would fundamentally change the sport — surely The Post would want someone working that story now.
It is deeply unsettling that that the Colorado Rockies may well receive less attention from The Post for the rest of the season than they will perhaps devote to some high school football programs.
I reached out to The Post for a comment on the publication’s plans for the Rockies beat, but I did not receive an answer.
So here we are.
What’s to be done?
Me, I’m going to cancel my subscription.
Believe it or not, my Denver Post subscription costs more than my subscription to the New York Times. I can read AP gamers anywhere. Better yet, I can read gamers on Purple Row, where we write our own recaps that are published at the conclusion of every game.
I hate to do it. I believe that what newspapers do in local communities is vitally important. But it’s difficult to see The Post as doing anything other than dropping the ball when it comes to covering the Rockies.
Well, what can you say when a pitcher, making his second start of the season and coming off a horrible season debut, is absolutely brilliant? Well, the Cubs hitters helped — 12 of the Cubs’ 16 strikeouts came with Hunter Greene on the mound. But credit is given where credit is due.
That said, the Cubs were outhit 13-4. The hot Seiya Suzuki had two of those, including a double, but with no one on base, they were for naught. And the Cubs, who have been recipients of plenty of walks of late, only managed one Friday.
Yes, Shōta Imanaga gave up yet another solo shot, but he stranded the other seven baserunners while striking out five. There is an article below that points out his big flaw, but gives him credit in every other facet of his game.
But. The bullpen. As shown below, it was easy come, easy go for Jake Woodford. He’s the reliever that turned Imanaga’s effort to dust, giving up a triple and three-run home run that turned a 1-0 game that wasn’t that close into a rout that might as well been 20-0. Thanks so much for stopping by, Jake.
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
Charlie Wright (MLBRumors): Cubs Designate Jake Woodford For Assignment. “Right-hander Jake Woodford has been designated for assignment by the Cubs, the team announced. Reliever Phil Maton is back from the injured list to take Woodford’s spot in the bullpen.”
Joey Ricotta (OnTapSportsNet): Who Can the Cubs Trust in the Bullpen Right Now? “The Chicago Cubs have a bullpen problem; there is no other way to put it. Where they stand and how they can improve the situation.”
Christian Willisohn (born January 22, 1962 in Munich ) is a German blues pianist and singer. His musical career began in 1980 in Munich clubs; In 1986 he gave up his profession as a stonemason and sculptor. In 1987 he played with Zora Young for the first time in the US. Since then he has played with many international blues musicians. Today he performs throughout Europe with classics and original compositions with texts by his wife, Alexandra Mayer.
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.
FAWNSKIN, CA - JUNE 12, 2026: A paddle boarder goes bow fishing with his dog on board on a picturesque summer day on the North Shore at Big Bear Lake on June 12, 2026 in Fawnskin, CA. (This was photographed from a distance on a boat therefore I couldn't get the man's name) (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Braves have certainly put fans through the ringer after the hottest first two months ever. A June swoon has somewhat leveled off into a 5-6 July with JR Ritchie set to finish off the first half. The team is reeling after several injuries. We asked internally if the team could use the time off. I don’t know about the Braves, but I know I need a break.
I am ready for a break from the starting rotation, which consists of Chris Sale and the giant The Price is Right wheel. I am ready to be away from the ugly side of the bullpen. I am tired of Walt Weiss consistently placing games at the mercy of the ugly side of the bullpen. I am ready for a break from this offense and its fits and starts. And I’m definitely tired of this fanbase and their fits and drive-by not-so-very-hot takes.
So are you ready for a break? Will you be ready to jump back in and play starter roulette and the Tim Hyers Batting Approach of the Day on Friday? Well sure, if we must. What else are we gonna do? We want to keep up with college football and track all 105 perma-free-agents on your favorite team’s roster? Are we following the Falcons eternal drive to 8-9? Any CFL weirdos in here? Don’t mind me, I’ll be over here playing Mario Kart with my kiddo until we get back.
HOOVER, AL - MAY 21: Pitcher Liam Peterson #12 of the Florida Gators celebrates closing out an inning during the SEC Baseball Tournament Quarterfinals game between Florida Gators and Alabama Crimson Tide on May 21, 2026, at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.(Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Guardians beat the Marlins and selected four players in the first four rounds of the 2026 major league draft.
Patrick Bailey doubled in some key insurance runs late yesterday. Since June 1st, Guardians catchers have had a 118 wRC+ which is crazy. Bailey has a 120 wRC+ in high leverage spots for his career (44 in mid-leverage, 75 in low leverage). That shouldn’t be sustainable but, hey, I won’t complain if it is. Steven Kwan is closing in on a month’s of 110 wRC+ play, so let’s hope that continues. However, his defense is just always good and Travis Bazzana and Kwan combined on an insanely high baseball IQ play yesterday:
“6-foot-5, 225 pounds and throws from a steep vertical arm slot. He throws a high-carry four-seam fastball that averages around 96 mph and has been up to 100. His fastball has clear plus traits and power, but he needs to improve his command to avoid throwing middle-middle heaters that get hit hard. All three of his secondaries are standout swing-and-miss pitches. A high-spin slider in the upper-80s is his go-to secondary and a clear plus offering with sharp biting action that helped him generate a 51% miss rate. He throws the pitch nearly half the time against righties. Against lefties, Peterson will mix in a mid-80s changeup and a curveball around 80 mph. While Peterson has less confidence and feel for his changeup and curveball, they are also potential plus pitches that vex hitters when he can consistently put them over the plate. Peterson has tinkered with his arm slot over the years and is a below-average strike-thrower. He has obvious upside potential as a starter, but will need to make strides with his control and command to stick in that role.”
“Schmidt has a 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame and an easy, repeatable delivery that features a three-quarters slot and a consistently balanced finish. He has a starter’s operation and advanced feel to spot a three-pitch mix. After touching 97 mph on the 2025 circuit, Schmidt pushed his fastball up to 98 during his senior spring season and was consistently throwing the pitch in the mid 90s. He attacks the zone with his fastball and can locate it to both sides of the plate to get ahead in counts and set up his secondaries. Schmidt’s 78-82 mph breaking ball is his go-to secondary and a slurvy in-between offering that varies between a curveball and slider. He throws it with solid movement and shape to build on, and scouts believe he’ll be able to add a harder true slider in the future. Against righties, Schmidt is confident in a mid-to-upper-80s changeup that he sells with great arm speed and has above-average potential.”
“He’s a 6-foot, 190-pound outfielder with dynamic speed and one of the best center field gloves in the class. Broussard missed time early in 2026 with a hamstring injury but hit .344/.436/.472 in 44 games while stealing 25 bases. Broussard has an old-school leadoff skill set, with a hit-over-power profile and plenty of speed. He added a bit of strength and traded some contact for power in 2026 but still profiles as a 50-55 pure hitter with below-average game power. Broussard has an upright and open setup, with a leg kick to get his swing going. He makes solid swing decisions, keeps his strikeouts in check and has a downhill bat path that is more conducive to groundballs and low line drives. That approach and swing should work for his tool set, because Broussard is a 70-grade runner who creates pressure on infield defenses and opposing batteries. He’s a high-volume and efficient basestealer who went 56-for-64 (88%) in two years at Houston. Broussard is one of the better center field defenders in the class.”
“He’s a 6-foot-2, 220-pound lefthanded hitter with a buttery smooth lefthanded swing and sound approach. He has a quiet setup and a low-maintenance swing with a slight uphill path but an all-fields approach and a knack for the barrel. He can drive the ball with solid power to both gaps and has gotten to consistent pullside home run power with metal bats, but his wood bat track record is more limited, and his raw power could be more conducive to a hit-over-power profile. That could make his defensive profile a challenge, as Lewis is a below-average runner and more of a first base defender than a third baseman. He was Wake Forest’s primary first baseman in 2026, and might be able to handle an outfield corner, but his value will primarily come from the damage he’s able to do in the batter’s box.”
You can read Baseball America scouting reports here. You can also listen to their post draft podcast and at the very end of it, minute 56, they rave about the Guardians’ draft. So, that’s good!
Rounds 5-20 resume today at 1PM ET on MLB Network and the Guardians wrap up pre-All-Star Game play at 1:40 PM ET, looking for a sweep of the Marlins.
AROUND MLB:
The Twins and White Sox won and Tigers and Royals lost.
Jonathan Santucci of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies delivers a pitch during a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on June 12, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Detroit Tigers’ six-game win streak came to an end on Saturday evening at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-2, inside Comerica Park. Casey Mize just did not have it this time around, and while Eduardo Valencia continued to prove that he belongs in the big leagues, the offense just could not get anything going against Cristopher Sánchez,
On Sunday afternoon, the Old English D looks to seize its fourth-straight series win heading into the All-Star break with perennial All-Star left-hander Tarik Skubal taking the mound. The 29-year-old has posted a 1.64 ERA and 3.02 FIP over his last two starts, including a five-inning, one-run effort last time out at home against the Athletics, which resulted in his fifth win of the season in a 6-2 final.
The Tigers will once again have their hands full as the Phillies send another tough pitcher, right-hander Zack Wheeler, to the bump seeking a series win of their own. The 36-year-old’s last outing at the Cincinnati Reds earned him his 10th quality start of 2026, throwing seven frames of one-run ball on four hits (one home run) while striking out a season-high 14 batters en route to his ninth win in a 4-1 final.
Here is how the two top-tier pitchers match up on Sunday.
Detroit Tigers (44-51) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (53-43)
Time (ET): 1:40 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:The Good Phight Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 96: LHP Tarik Skubal (5-4, 3.06 ERA) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (9-1, 2.28 ERA)
CINCINNATI, OH - JULY 09: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Thursday, July 9, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Colten Strauss/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Bryce Harper snapped his out of his funk last night, collecting two hits after looking rather disinterested in doing so the past few games. Good thing too as he has a busy week ahead of him.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 11: LaMonte Wade Jr. #31 is congratulated by Isaac Paredes #15 of the Houston Astros after hitting a grand slam home run against the Texas Rangers in the third inning at Globe Life Field on July 11, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 MLB Draft has dominated headlines in what’s been a full day of action around the league. The Yankees have the four newest members of their organization pending their signings with the team, and even managed to grind out another comeback victory against the Nationals thanks to eighth-inning home runs from Ryan McMahon, Trent Grisham, and Paul Goldschmidt. It means they are riding a modest three-game winning streak, which comes at an important time given the results elsewhere around the AL.
Tampa Bay Rays (56-37) 6, Seattle Mariners (47-49) 1
The Rays somehow worked their magic to secure the second pick in this year’s draft and wasted no time in using it on consensus top-two draft prospect Grady Emerson. They had to feel pretty gleeful about how the day went for them as a whole as they rolled over the Mariners for the second straight day and achieved a coup in the Draft. They handed Logan Gilbert one of his heavier defeats of the year, scoring four runs on nine hits and two walks off the Seattle starter, while Griffin Jax gave them five innings of one-run ball, that lone run a Cole Emerson sack fly to open the scoring after Cole Young led off the second with a double.
A Ben Williamson RBI double in the bottom of the frame leveled the score, and back-to-back doubles by Yandy Díaz and Jonathan Aranda to open the third gave them the lead. Gilbert managed to right the ship from there, but was left in a batter too long, an Aranda two-out double in the seventh knocking him from the game. An intentional walk of Junior Caminero put a pair on for pinch-hitter Ryan Vilade, who crushed the first pitch he saw for a three-run blast to put the game out of reach, a Nick Fortes RBI single an inning later wrapping up the scoring. The Rays maintained their four-game lead in the AL East.
Chicago White Sox (49-45) 1, The Athletics (41-54) 0
Despite speculation that they might throw a curveball, the White Sox used the first overall pick on the player many consider to be the top college prospect: shortstop Roch Cholowsky of UCLA. He joins an organization that ascending well ahead of schedule, their win over the Athletics allowing them to stay tied atop the AL Central. A bullpen day that included four scoreless innings from bulk reliever Erick Fedde limited the A’s to four-hits, two apiece for Jacob Wilson and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer. The lone run of the contest came in the sixth, Colson Montgomery drawing a two-out walk and scoring all the way from first on a Chase Meidroth double. They remain in a virtual tie with Cleveland atop the AL Central.
With wins in the first two games, the Guardians have put themselves in pole position to sweep the hottest team in baseball since the start of June. It began with 6.2 innings of one-run ball from Tanner Bibee, a Liam Hicks RBI single in the seventh representing the lone damage. Cleveland did all of their scoring on a pair of two-run doubles from their eight and nine hitters. The first came from Steven Kwan with two outs in the fourth and the second was courtesy of Patrick Bailey with two outs in the eighth.
Houston Astros (47-50) 9, Texas Rangers (48-47) 3
Kumar Rocker was simply no match for the firepower in the Astros lineup, allowing seven runs on eight hits including three home runs. Peter Lambert meanwhile continues to be a revelation in the Astros rotation after joining on a minor league contract following a season with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. He allowed a run on just three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in six innings to lower his season ERA to 3.14 in 15 starts after having pitched to a 6.28 ERA in his previous four season stint with the Rockies.
A day after crushing the 200th home run of his career, Yordan Alvarez kicked things off with a two-run blast after Jeremy Peña led off the first with a single, extending his lead atop the MLB HR leaderboard to 31. The big blast of the game arrive in the third after Alvarez doubled, Isaac Paredes walked, and Jose Altuve singled to load the bases. LaMonte Wade Jr. demolished a hanging 1-1 slider from Rocker for a no-doubter grand slam to right, and just like that it was 6-0, Astros.
Christian Vásquez scored their seventh unanswered run with a solo shot in the fourth, though Ezequiel Duran responded in the bottom half with a solo homer of his own. Things settled down until the ninth inning, Houston scoring their eighth and ninth runs on a Christian Walker RBI double and Cam Smith sac fly while Duran chipped in his second home run of the afternoon, a two-run shot this time after Cam Cauley led off with a single.
