Category: Baseball

It is the 10th year of Top Prospect voting at South Side Sox!

First, let us review past years:

• Here is how 2018 wrangled out — all 42 picks. Also, here is an archive of every article in the 2018 series.
• Here is how 2019 came together, all 50 picks, and the archive as well.
• Now 2020, with the archive.
• Here is the 2021 wrap-up of just 35 picks due to flagging participation, along with the full archive.
• Here is the 2022 link to the 27-pick wrap, along with the full archive.
• Round 24 of voting was the last of 2023 (we did not do an actual wrap for the voting, but Jordan Sprinkle ended up being our final pick), and the full archive.
• In 2024 Abraham Núñez was our 34th pick to end the series, and here is the wrap-up post and full archive of each profile.
• In 2025, we did 31 picks, ending with Eric Adler. Here is the wrap and full stream, of every article.
• And last year, we got through 37 picks, ending with Reudis Diaz. Here is the wrap, and full stream of every article.

We are starting the Top 100 Prospect countdown on the same day as our first poll, with the goal of running a new poll every day. At that rate, we should get through 35 Votes before the Top 100 meets our polling, giving SSS readers 35 chances to weigh in on our Top 100. From there, we will stop the polling and run through the remaining players, finishing up as all players report to camp in mid-February.

As of now our countdown will start with Fidel Montero as our Mr. 100 this year. We’ve customarily turned over the Prospect Vote to the next round as soon as the top vote-getter seems to have an insurmountable lead, but if there’s a rout, we’ll call it in a day. In order to get as many votes as possible in, we’ll try to wait no longer than two days before the next round.

Four players from last year’s Top 10 Prospects have lost their prospect status due to MLB service (Braden Montgomery at No. 1, Noah Schultz at No. 3, Hagen Smith at No. 4 and Sam Antonacci at No. 7). As an indication that there is some continuity in the system, four players on last year’s initial ballot appear in this year’s as well. With Mason Adams having been traded, that means just one player, Christian Oppor, performed poorly enough to drop off of our initial ballot.

Six of the 10 players on this first 2027 ballot played in the White Sox system in 2026, including two who made their major league debuts during the season. As to be expected drafting so early, we have four 2026 draft choices rounding out on the first ballot.

This year, the grandfather of our Top 100 is Tanner McDougal, marking his sixth year on our list and having moved from No. 21 to 22, 26, 63 and 6 so far. If all goes well, it will be his last, as he’ll see significant MLB time.

All right, let’s have some fun. And get voting!

This was our first tight race, with David Sandlin springing to an early lead and holding off Billy Carlson. Sandlin earned 27 of 91 votes (30%):

Sandlin, acquired along with Jordan Hicks for Gage Ziehl in what was regarded as a mere salary dump deal, came to Chicago too late last offseason to make our Top 100 or Prospect Vote.

Past No. 3s in the SSS Top Prospect Vote
2026 Caleb Bonemer (40%)
2025 Edgar Quero (25%)
2024 Bryan Ramos (29%)
2023 Bryan Ramos (29%)
2022 José Rodríguez (38%)
2021 Michael Kopech (69%)
2020 Nick Madrigal (70%)
2019 Dylan Cease (75%)
2018 Luis Robert Jr. (63%)

Outfielder George Wolkow joins the ballot this round.

South Side Sox Top-Voted White Sox Prospects for 2027

1. Caleb Bonemer — 71% (Cholowsky 25%, Fauske 3%, Prosek 2%, Bergolla Jr./Carlson/McDougal/Sandlin/Thome/Volchko 0%)
2. Roch Cholowsky — 75% (Sandlin 8%, Bergolla Jr. 6%, Carlson 5%, McDougal 3%, Fauske/Mogollón 2%, Prosek/Thome/Volchko 0%)
3. David Sandlin — 30% (Carlson 23%, Fauske 10%, Bergolla Jr./McDougal 9%, Prosek 8%, Lodise/Thome 4%, Mogollón 3%, Volchko 0%)

William Bergolla Jr.
Shortstop
Age 22
2026 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 15
2026 high level Charlotte (AAA)
Age relative to high level -5.1 years
Overall 2026 stats (ACL/AAA) 11 games ▪️ 0 HR ▪️ 9 RBI ▪️ .444/.524/.556 ▪️ 2-of-4 (50.0%) SB ▪️ 5 BB ▪️ 4 K ▪️ 1.000 FLD%▪️ 0.6 WAR

The epitome of a “Chris Getz player,” Bergolla offsets his Punch-and-Judy bat with deft baserunning, a killer glove and incredible plate discipline. Well young for his level, this legacy player (dad, also William Bergolla) has cut through the White Sox system like butter since his acquisition at the 2024 trade deadline (from Philly, for Tanner Banks). After getting some heavy run in Spring Training 2026, Bergolla was on the fast track to Chicago before a collision with left fielder Sam Antonacci in an April game for the Knights gave him a serious bone bruise in his leg; after a lengthy stint on the IL, Bergolla broke his injured leg in his first rehab game in the ACL.

Billy Carlson
Shortstop
Age 20
2026 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 7
2026 high level Kannapolis (Low-A)
Age relative to high level -1.3 years
Overall 2026 stats (ACL/Low-A) 60 games ▪️ 0 HR ▪️ 21 RBI ▪️ .252/.380/.335 ▪️ 14-of-16 (87.5%) SB ▪️ 41 BB ▪️ 59 K ▪️ .976 FLD%▪️ 1.5 WAR

It was a star-crossed pro debut for the 2025 first-rounder, who broke his left thumb in May and was later shut down for the season with a skin infection on his left leg. Let’s hope Carlson can get right for 2027, as the crush of blue-chip shortstops in the system (led by, of course, 2026’s overall No. 1 pick, Roch Cholowsky) could end up drowning him. Positives? Honestly, in his cameos at the plate Carlson flashed more pop to the gaps and on-base ability than expected.

Jaden Fauske
Center Fielder
Age 20
2026 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 11
2026 high level Kannapolis (Low-A)
Age relative to high level -1.3 years
Overall 2026 stats 118 games ▪️ 4 HR ▪️ 48 RBI ▪️ .250/.388/.360 ▪️ 46-of-56 (82.1%) SB ▪️ 94 BB ▪️ 125 K ▪️ .948 FLD%▪️ 2.8 WAR

A year ago, we were not certain where Fauske would play, as a high school catcher announced at the draft as an outfielder-only. That proved to be the case in his first professional season, but what ho, Fauske saw more time in center than right field. And with quicks that saw Jaden snatch 46 bags in 118 games, the youngster might well stick in center.

Kyle Lodise
Shortstop
Age 22
2026 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 24
2026 high level Winston-Salem (High-A)
Age relative to high level 0.0 years
Overall 2026 stats 111 games ▪️ 20 HR ▪️ 77 RBI ▪️ .230/.380/.440 ▪️ 42-of-51 (82.4%) SB ▪️ 92 BB ▪️ 141 K ▪️ .957 FLD%▪️ 3.6 WAR

Lodise made a return visit to Winston-Salem in 2026, and his first full professional season went extremely well. With a low average and slug to burn, the shortstop fits right in with the org profile of swinging hard, damn the contact. Thankfully, Lodise is selective enough at the plate to produce astronomical OBPs. And his power bat is showing better than advertised at this point.

Tanner McDougal
Right-Handed Starting Pitcher
Age 23
2024 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 33
2025 SSS Prospect Poll ranking N/R
2026 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 6
2026 high level Chicago (MLB)
Age relative to high level -6.2 years
Overall 2026 stats (High-A/AAA/MLB) 2-3 ▪️ 27 games (7 starts, 3 finishes) ▪️ 50 IP ▪️ 4.86 ERA ▪️ 53 K ▪️ 34 BB ▪️ 1.480 WHIP ▪️0.2 WAR

The good news is that McDougal was enough of a core piece to be promoted to Chicago in the second half of 2026. The bad news … well, where to start. McDougal’s presumptive march to the South Side rotation was stopped dead early in the season, when he was sidelined for weeks with forearm tightness. While the injury was thankfully not severe enough to necessitate a second TJS, Tanner was a relief arm for the rest of the season and not a stable one at that. His brief cameo in Chicago saw him rack up one out along with three walks.

Javier Mogollón
Second Baseman
Age 21
2026 high level Winston-Salem (AA)
Age relative to high level -2.0 years
Overall 2026 stats (Low-A/High-A) 91 games ▪️ 14 HR ▪️ 57 RBI ▪️ .262/.368/.448 ▪️ 36-of-44 (81.8%) SB ▪️ 53 BB ▪️ 123 K ▪️ .965 FLD%▪️ 2.5 WAR

The diminutive (5´8´´, 160) infielder wowed in rookie ball and though his climb has slowed, Mogollón has steadily risen up our ranks, from No.62 in our 2024 Top 100 to the cusp of the Top 10 today. That said, he’s seen two straight seasons shortened by hamstring issues. At least in 2026, Mogollón was able to return before season’s end, providing a clutch bat coming that provided a .313/.389/.813 slash and eight RBIs en route to sweeping to a SALLY title.

Cole Prosek
Third Baseman
Age 19
2026 High Level Magnolia Heights (H.S.)
Overall 2026 stats (H.S) 41 games ▪️ 18 HR ▪️ 79 RBI ▪️ .545/.678/1.177 ▪️ 62 R ▪️ 7 SB ▪️ 31 BB ▪️ 12 K

Coming to Chicago as a second-rounder, Prosek seems more highly-regarded by evaluators than the guy picked ahead of him by the White Sox, low first round choice Landon Thome. That’s a curious thing, but Prosek dominated his prep competition even more thoroughly than Thome. Plus, while the White Sox regard Prosek as a second baseman, his prep time was spent significantly at the hot corner, and he has experience behind the plate as well.

Landon Thome
Shortstop
Age 19
2026 High Level Nazareth Academy (H.S.)
Overall 2026 stats (H.S) 7 HR ▪️ 29 RBI ▪️ .545 AVG ▪️ 49-of-50 (98.0%) SB

How crazy is it to have two high school teammates (Thome and Jaden Fauske) on our first ballot of the voting year … or any ballot, ever? The White Sox were so hot to dip back into Nazareth’s roster that they dealt promising 2023 first-rounder Jacob Gonzalez to Pittsburgh to acquire the draft pick to snag him; clearly the club was not confident Thome would drop into the second round. Unlike his father, Hall-of-Famer and White Sox adviser Jim, Landon is better regarded for his speed and defense than his ability to put the ball over the fence. Slugging will come in time for junior, however.

Joey Volchko
Right-handed starting pitcher
Age 21
2026 high level University of Georgia (NCAA)
Age relative to high level +0.1 years
Overall 2026 stats 11-2 ▪️ 18 starts ▪️ 1 CG ▪️ 95 1/3 IP ▪️ 3.68 ERA ▪️ 119 K ▪️ 46 BB ▪️ 1.343 WHIP ▪️ 2.1 WAR

This big-armed righty can touch 100 mph with his fastball, but wildness concerns might have precipitated Volchko’s drop to the White Sox in the third round in spite of MLB ranking him as a second round (68th-best) talent. He’s a big-game pitcher who dragged the Bulldogs to their first College World Series win in 18 years with a complete-game effort over the University of Texas. There’s a chance Volchko ends up as a high-leverage bullpen arm, but he will get every chance to stick as a starter.

George Wolkow
Right Fielder
Age 21
2024 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 14
2025 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 13
2026 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 16
2026 high level Winston-Salem (High-A)
Age relative to high level -2.0 years
Overall 2026 stats 123 games ▪️ 22 HR ▪️ 100 RBI ▪️ .239/.317/.446 ▪️ 15-of-22 (68.2%) SB ▪️ 50 BB ▪️ 179 K ▪️ .971 FLD%▪️ 1.6 WAR

Wolkow sacrificed speed and what batting eye he had for power in 2026, and while that made for some impressive counting stats (22-100 plays on the back of any baseball card) the hole in his swing hasn’t been sewn. If the White Sox brass is having Wolkow bet on his best tool, power, at all others’ expense, he’s slipping into the Colson Category.

The Atlanta Braves have concluded their season, but there is still quite a bit going on that could directly have an impact on them. We have awards rolling in, salary cap discussions, potential free agent signings and trades, etc.

Keep an eye out for the Rookie of the Year announcement on November 9th. Didier Fuentes likely will not win, but it will be interesting to see how many down votes he gets. It is arbitrary in nature, but it can be fun to discuss what the outcome will be.

Manager of the Year will be announced on November 10th. The term finalist is a bit deceiving because the voting has already decided, but all three NL “finalists” have a legitimate reason to have received the top three total votes. Mattingly took a team look destined to fail and turned the season around. Weiss took a team that missed the playoffs last season and brought them to a NLE division win, and Murphy once again led a dominant Brewers team that led MLB in wins (postseason was not factored into voting).

We also have Chris Sale in the mix for Cy Young. He likely did not win, but like Fuentes it will be fun to see how voters placed him.

There has been a new update on salary cap and salary floor as well. It is always fun to hear people’s thoughts on this subject.

The MLB General Manager Meetings start next week on November 9th in Las Vegas. We don’t typically see a ton happen at these meetings, but they do typically set the groundwork for trades and evaluation of free agent markets. There is a small chance we see some minor additions at this time.

Let’s talk about these subjects or whatever else is on your mind in the comments.

Jake Bauers made $2.7 million this season.

By 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 17, the Milwaukee Brewers' National League Championship Series MVP has to decide whether to take $23.15 million for one year or turn it down and test free agency.

He may be one of the last players ever who has to make that call.

Bauers is one of eight free agents who received a qualifying offer Monday, along with Yankees closer David Bednar, Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki and Marlins outfielder Randy Arozarena. Major League Baseball and the players union have both proposed scrapping the system in the next collective bargaining agreement. The current deal expires Dec. 1 and a lockout is expected.

This is not new territory. When the last CBA expired in 2021, 14 players received qualifying offers. Brandon Belt was the only one who said yes.

Eight of the others had deals in place by the time the owners locked out the players. Four more waited out the 99-day lockout.

What is a qualifying offer in baseball?

A qualifying offer is a one-year contract set at the average salary of baseball's 125 highest-paid players. This year it's a record $23.15 million, up from $22.025 million last year.

A team can only make the offer to a player who spent the whole season with the club and has never received one before.

The player has two choices.

Accept, and he's back with his team for one more season. He can't be traded without his consent until June 15.

Reject, and he becomes a free agent with a draft pick penalty attached. If he signs somewhere else, his old team gets a compensation pick, and his new team gives up at least one of its own.

How much that pick is worth depends on the old team's finances. A revenue-sharing club like the Brewers can get a pick right after the first round if the player signs for $50 million or more. Luxury-tax payers like the Yankees and Cubs only get one after the fourth round.

Most players say no. Since the system began after the 2012 season, only 18 of 157 players accepted before this year. A record four did it last winter.

Who got qualifying offer in 2026?

• Randy Arozarena, Mariners: six straight 20-homers, 20-steal seasons
• Jake Bauers, Brewers: 26 homers and an .874 OPS before his NLCS MVP run
• David Bednar, Yankees: 35 saves and a 2.47 ERA
• Ryan Jeffers, Twins: a 116 OPS+ since 2023, sixth among primary catchers
• Brandon Lowe, Pirates: 35 homers and 96 RBIs
• Adrian Morejon, Padres: the first setup man ever to get a qualifying offer
• Trevor Rogers, Orioles: the only starting pitcher in the group
• Seiya Suzuki, Cubs: a 128 OPS+ over five seasons in Chicago

Eight offers is the fewest since 2023. Teams handed out 14 before the last lockout.

Cubs outfielder Ian Happ and Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm did not get qualifying offers, which was a little surprising. The Yankees decided not to offer one to Jazz Chisholm a year after Trent Grisham accepted their offer and posted just 0.7 WAR in 2026.

Why the 2026 qualifying offer could be the last

Draft-pick compensation was at the center of the 1981 players strike, and the union has pushed to end or limit it in every negotiation since, according to MLB. Players see it as a drag on free agency, because teams think twice about signing someone who costs them a draft pick.

On May 27, the union proposed eliminating it. On June 25, the league agreed.

MLB repeated that offer Tuesday in a proposal that also pushed its salary cap plan back to 2028. The union quickly rejected the package. The biggest fight between the two sides is over the cap.

According to the league, ending the system would remove draft-pick compensation from free agency for the first time since 1976.

Still, nothing is done until there's a deal. Baseball learned that last time.

When the 2021-22 lockout ended, the owners offered to drop the qualifying offer in exchange for an international draft. The two sides gave themselves until July 25, 2022 to agree. The union rejected the draft, and the qualifying offer survived for the rest of the CBA.

None of this changes the rules for this winter. Teams had to make their offers, and players have to answer, before the current CBA expires.

What's less clear is what happens to a player who rejects his offer and is still unsigned when a new deal arrives. If the system is gone by then, it's unclear whether his old team would still get a pick.

How the qualifying offer worked before the 2021 lockout

The 2021 offer was worth $18.4 million. Thirteen players turned it down, and they split into three groups.

Some didn't wait at all. Eduardo Rodriguez signed a five-year, $77 million deal with the Tigers and Noah Syndergaard took one year and $21 million from the Angels before the decision deadline even arrived. Justin Verlander rejected the Astros' offer and agreed to return to Houston the same day on a one-year, $35 million deal with a player option. That contract was finalized during the lockout.

Others beat the clock. The Rangers gave Corey Seager 10 years and $325 million and Marcus Semien seven years and $175 million. The Mariners gave Robbie Ray five years and $115 million. Raisel Iglesias re-signed with the Angels on Dec. 1. Chris Taylor re-signed with the Dodgers.

Teams committed a single-day record $1.4 billion in contracts on Dec. 1, according to an Associated Press tally. Hours later the owners locked out the players.

Transactions froze from Dec. 2 until March 10, 2022 and the rest of the players with qualifying offers had to wait.

When the market reopened, Freddie Freeman signed with the Dodgers for six years and $162 million. Nick Castellanos got five years and $100 million from the Phillies. Carlos Correa took three years and $105.3 million from the Twins, with opt-outs after each of the first two seasons. Trevor Story signed with the Red Sox for six years and $140 million.

Michael Conforto never signed in 2022. He underwent shoulder surgery and sat out the season.

Because the new CBA kept the qualifying offer, the draft picks still changed hands. The Red Sox used the 79th pick as their compensation for losing Rodriguez, on outfielder Roman Anthony. The Dodgers never got to use theirs for Seager, they lost it when they signed Freeman.

Will free agents sign before the Dec. 1 lockout?

If 2021 is any guide, expect a late rush. Players want contracts and security before the shutdown, and teams want to fill roster holes.

The qualifying offer adds pressure. A player who rejects his offer stays tied to draft compensation until the next amateur draft begins. In 2019, Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel waited so long that they signed after the draft, and their old teams got nothing.

This time, no one knows what rules will be in place in 2027.

The last time a lockout loomed, only one player said yes. Brandon Belt took his $18.4 million and stayed in San Francisco.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why MLB's 2026 qualifying offers could be the last ones ever

Albert Pujols is in the mix for yet another managerial opening. 

The MLB legend is interviewing for the Astros’ manager job, according to The Athletic. 

He will be interviewed by new Houston general manager Randy Flores, who spent the previous 11 seasons in the Cardinals’ front office and played with Pujols in St. Louis for five years. 

The Astros are kicking off a new era after parting ways with general manager Dana Brown in August and declining to renew manager Joe Espada’s contract following an 81-81 season.

Houston won its eighth American League West title in 10 seasons but was swept out of the postseason by the White Sox during the wild-card round. 

Pujols, a three-time MVP, interviewed for managerial openings with the Angels and Padres last offseason, but fell short of getting either job. 

He also reportedly had interest from the Orioles for the manager role last offseason. 

In June, Pujols suggested he’d be interested in becoming the manager of the Mets after the franchise fired Carlos Mendoza. 

He’s enjoyed some success from the dugout, though. 

He guided Leones del Escogido to the Dominican winter league championship and Caribbean Series title in 2025 before managing the Dominican Republic in this year’s World Baseball Classic to a third-place finish. 

The Astros are also considering Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus, who previously managed the Tigers and Angels, and Rangers bench coach Luis Urueta, per The Athletic.

Pujols, who will be eligible to be voted into the Hall of Fame in 2028, hit 703 career home runs, which ranks fourth all time.

Brandon Lowe is officially a free agent and able to sign with any of the 30 MLB clubs as soon as possible. 

Now the waiting begins.

The Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman is one of the best free agents available in this year’s cycle after a historic season.

Lowe slugged 35 home runs in his lone year in Pittsburgh, the most by any second baseman in team history. He broke Neil Walker’s record by 12.

Lowe slashed .260/.331/.493 with a .824 OPS in 150 games after being traded from the future American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays.

He recorded 152 hits, 29 doubles, 96 RBIs and consistently carried the Pirates lineup from the No. 2 spot in the batting order.

Not known as a good defender, Lowe improved his defense well enough to earn one of three Gold Glove nominations at second base.

Pittsburgh has officially offered Lowe a qualifying offer as he enters free agency. The deal is a one-year, $23.15 million contract for the 2027 season. If Lowe accepts, he will be back with the Pirates and can still negotiate a long-term deal. 

If he rejects, the Pirates will receive a compensatory draft pick when Lowe signs elsewhere. Lowe has until November 17 to accept or deny the terms. Lowe was one of eight players to be offered a qualifying offer.

Multiple MLB analysts have estimated the contact Lowe could command on the market. Former MLB GM Jim Bowden only projected a three-year, $45 million deal, a $15 million average-annual-value for someone already offered over $23 million.

ESPN insider Kiley McDaniel believes Lowe will agree to a deal nearing a four-year, $80 million total.

Keith Law of The Athletic has the most stunning projection. Law regards Lowe as the third-best free agent on the market and estimates he will sign a five-year, $150 million contract. 

The difference in years and annual value is staggering and paints a difficult picture for what Lowe will command. It also doesn’t help that the league and players have until December 1 to agree on a new CBA before the impending lockout.

Lowe, 32, put together one of the best all-around seasons in Pirates history this century, and the Pirates should offer him a three-year deal nearing $20 million. 

They can afford it, plus a potential change in revenue sharing and the economic landscape of baseball could make the deal even easier.

The clock is ticking, and it’s time for the Pirates to step up to the plate and show they are committed to winning and winning significantly in 2027. Sign Brandon Lowe. It just makes too much sense.

The Cincinnati Reds announced on Wednesday afternoon that they have found their new pitching coach. Joe Torres, who had been an assitant pitching coach with the Cleveland Guardians since back in 2022, will assume the roll immediately and work with the staff as it heads into the 2027 season.

Torres, now 44 years old, is a former 1st round draft pick of the then Anaheim Angels from back in 2000. A lefty, he got off to a sharp start within an Angels organization that won the World Series in 2002, and Baseball America even named him the #50 overall prospect in the game prior to 2001. He missed all of the 2004 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and his pitching career went sideways from that moment on, and he never actually made it to the big leagues after bouncing around the farm systems of the Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Colorado Rockies.

Beginning in 2017, he began coaching on the Guardians farm, doing so while the likes of Terry Francona managed the big league club. That means that the current Reds pitching coach, 1B coach (Colin Cowgill), and hitting coach (Chris Valaika) all spent time under Francona either playing or coaching during the future Hall of Fame manager’s time spearheading the Guardians.

Torres will replace Derek Johnson, who served as the franchise’s overall pitching coordinator prior to his leave of absence last June. Johnson, who came to the Reds as the team’s pitching coach back in 2018, was relieved of his duties at season’s end after having been absent for the final 3+ months of the 2026 season.

After ten years and 1,662 plate-appearances, it appears the Pavin Smith era in Arizona has ended. His time here is likely notable more for its length than its quality. In franchise history, only seven position players have appeared in more seasons for the Diamondbacks. But Smith was never a full-time, regular player: just once did he reach even ninety games, and he trails the likes of Orlando Hudson and Conor Jackson in PA as a D-back. He certainly wasn’t great: his time here ends barely better than replacement (0.2 bWAR, 0.9 fWAR). But he wasn’t expensive either: this was the first year Pavin earned any semi-significant amount. I’d say he didn’t deserve the brutal vitriol hurled at him by certain sections of online fandom.

Perhaps it was a sense of disappointment at Smith never living up to hopes and expectations. He was a first-round pick – and a high one at that, going seventh overall in the 2017 draft, as Mike Hazen’s first ever selection. Admittedly, it wasn’t a great class that year: excluding Drew Rasmussen, who didn’t sign, only two of the top sixty players have reached even eight bWAR so far: Hunter Greene and Trevor Rogers [The most productive player has arguably been Daulton Varsho, selected after sixty-seven others] As a yardstick, the following year already has seven such. Arizona could have done worse. #4 in 2017, Brendan McKay, threw less than fifty innings at below replacement level, and #6 Austin Beck never reached the majors.

At the time, John Sickels of Minor League Ball (remember that site?) wrote, “Overall few players offer the combination of safety and upside possessed by Smith.” Pavin was immediately named the team’s top prospect, and the following month was Arizona’s only player listed in the overall top 100 prospects by MLB Pipeline, coming in at #75. By the following spring, the general consensus was that he had been overtaken by pitcher Jon Duplantier – yeah, about that – but he was still the D-backs #2. However, a sluggish, power-depleted campaign in High-A, with only eleven HR in 120 games, saw him drop to the fringes of Arizona’s top 10 for 2019.

Smith rebounded that year, his SLG jumping 74 points despite a promotion to Double-A. The following year saw the minor-league season wiped out by COVID-19, but Pavin still made his major-league debut as a September call-up. Down the stretch, he hit 10-for-37 and notched his first home-run, against the Phillies (above – I had quite forgotten how weird things were that season, with a stadium devoid of fans, cardboard cutouts and piped-in crowd noise). The following year saw Smith’s sole campaign as a regular. He was much more an outfielder, starting at least five games at each OF spot, and making 98 of his 145 appearances there.

While he won our Rookie of the Year honor in 2021, (albeit in a weak class – “No award” came runner-up!) that largely set the tone for the years which followed. Smith hit respectably enough (a 98 OPS+), but mediocre defense wiped out any value at the plate. Outside of that brief 2020 stint, Pavin’s dWAR was below replacement every other season. This persisted, even as he moved from the outfield to the far easier position of first base. “Starting in center field: Pavin Smith” has a really weird sound to it now. But there was likely weirder, since in 2021 Ketel Marte was our main CF, on our way to a hundred and ten losses.

In 2023, however, the bat evaporated, as Smith hit just .188. His playing time consequently evaporated to 158 PA, and he was never able to command a regular spot as a Diamondback again. He always hit well in Reno: even given the offensive environment, a .955 OPS across 175 games for the Aces is still pretty good. But consistently translating this into success at the major-league level proved to be elusive. Oh, there were moments. Of the almost 23,000 major-league players, only 673 – less than three percent – have enjoyed a three-homer game. But Smith is among them, having done it on September 8th, 2024 (above). And two came off likely Hall of Famer, Justin Verlander.

However, the two seasons since have proved problematic, Smith struggling with a fatal combination of injury and ineffectiveness. He got off to a good start in 2025, and had an .852 OPS at the half-way point in the schedule, over almost 250 PA. But a right oblique strain in early July sidelined Pavin for six weeks, and he had barely returned when a left quad strain against the Brewers then ended his season. This year was worse still. He had lingering elbow soreness in spring training, and after a mere two games, this forced him onto the IL. He required surgery in mid-April to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, and struggled on his return. Smith was batting just .141 when designated for assignment on July 10.

There was one last hurrah. September saw Arizona desperately seeking a reliable left-handed bat to take on right-handed pitching, and Pavin got the call. The results had their moments, most notably a September 19th walk-off home-run against the Yankees, on the night the Diamondbacks honored the 2001 World Series team (above). But the team had decided Smith, now in his thirties and about to become significantly more expensive through arbitration, was no longer worth the squeeze. He was effectively non-tendered, being taken off the 40-man roster and becoming a minor-league free agent instead. Maybe he’ll sign back with the team in time for spring training!

Part of me kinda wants that to happen, simply to see the Twitiots’ heads explode. For I can’t recall the last time a player was the target of so much online hate – and, arguably, for little reason. At $2.25 million in his most expensive year, he was $850K cheaper than A.J. Puk this season, who didn’t play at all, and barely more than the startlingly useless Carlos Santana. It’s not as if Smith at first was blocking some top prospect either. Ildemaro Vargas was the most-used first baseman for Arizona this year in Smith’s absence. If I squint a moderate amount, perhaps too much faith in Smith caused Hazen to skimp on the 1B position since the departure of Christian Walker? That’s all I got. I know we have some in the #SmithHate camp present, and I’m genuinely curious.

It does leave a hole. Between them, the departed Vargas, Smith and Santana were responsible for half the starts at first base this year. Those need to be replaced. But that’s a question for another day, I think. For now, we just bid farewell to the riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma, that was Pavin Smith.

Josue De Paula ended the 2026 season as the top prospect in the Dodgers organization, while also playing briefly in the major league postseason after his September debut. So it’s no surprise that De Paula tops the list of top Dodgers prospects heading into 2027, as rated by the fine folks at Baseball Prospectus.

But he’s not alone among outfielders at the top, with Mike Sirota ranked second in the system and Eduardo Quintero third. Reigning Midwest League MVP Charles Davalan, another outfielder, checks in as the seventh-best prospect among Dodgers minor leaguers, and he’s been adding second base to his repertoire in the Arizona Fall League.

Sirota started last season in High-A Great Lakes, was promoted to Double-A Tulsa, and finished the season in the Triple-A playoffs with Oklahoma City. All the while, Sirota was an on-base machine, hitting .307/.461/.526 with 28 doubles, 17 home runs, and 100 walks in 108 games.

From Jeffrey Paternostro at Baseball Prospectus:

While Sirota is not likely to maintain those high batting averages further up the chain, the hit tool should play a bit above-average despite his below-average contact rates, because he can start his swing late and still do a lot of damage. And the more types of swings and types of pitches you can hit hard, the more often you will find gaps in the grass. That’s not to say there is no hit tool risk here, of course, and you can find Double-A arms that had success getting it in Sirota’s kitchen. Given his power and ability to draw walks, however, if he even hits .250 in the majors he would be a first-division starter, even in a corner.

De Paula, Sirota, Quintero, and shortstop Emil Morales were all top-101 prospects in the sport at Baseball Prospectus prior to the 2026 season, and they comprise the top four Dodgers prospects heading into 2027. The were in the top five prospects in the system before last season along with the since-traded Zyhir Hope.

De Paula and Christian Zazueta won Branch Rickey Awards as the Dodgers minor league player and pitcher of the year. For Zazueta, it was his second straight Rickey Award. He’s ranked fifth in the system by Baseball Prospectus this year, up 11 spots from last offseason.

Also of note, last year’s Dodgers first-round pick, high school shortstop Bo Lowrance, joins the top 10 prospects in the system at No. 8 heading into 2027 as he awaits his professional debut.

“He does have a pretty—and pretty simple—left-handed swing, but Lowrance has a weird mishmash of skills that don’t fit his frame nor his profile,” Paternostro wrote of the 6’5 Lowrance. “The Dodgers have the luxury of time with this sort of a position player project—and a near-best-in-class player development apparatus backing it—but like a lot of their prospects on this list, the org’s biggest swings don’t always make contact.”

Hyun-Seok Jang, the right-handed pitcher the Dodgers signed out of South Korea in 2023, jumped up from 21st in the system before 2026 to 10th going into 2027.

“The only thing keeping Jang from being ranked with the top pitching prospects in the system is his inability to stay on the mound for a full season,” Paternostro wrote.

Note: It’s nomination day! So in addition to voting, head to the comment section to nominate players for Friday’s CPL.

We’re fully off and running with the 2027 Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List, which will see us rank the top 44 prospects in the San Francisco Giants organization. Hey, we’ve already got a top three!

Rounding out the opening trio is shortstop Luis Hernández, who jumps up three spots from last year’s placement at No. 6. Hernández, a right-handed hitter who turns 18 in December, was widely considered the top international free agent when he signed with the Giants out of Venezuela in January.

In a fairly unconventional (unless you’re the Padres) move, the Giants had Hernández skip the Dominican Summer League entirely, and come straight to the states. What followed was pure brilliance: despite his age and inexperience, Hernández had no issues at all with the Arizona Complex League, where he hit .298/.382/.535 for a .917 OPS and a 117 wRC+, while bopping six home runs in 228 plate appearances and stealing six bases.

Hernández was the total package in Arizona: among 136 qualified Complex League hitters (where Hernández was more than two-and-a-half years below the average age), he ranked 24th in batting average, 14th in isolated slugging percentage (.237), and 15th in strikeout rate (16.7%). He also played a quite delightful shortstop, looking remarkably smooth and graceful, and handled third base well when displaced by Josuar González (our No. 1 prospect).

Given his age and experience level, it’s safe to say that Hernández fairly dramatically outperformed expectations … and expectations were quite high!

When the Rookie Ball season ended, the Giants rewarded Hernández for his strong play — and sought to get him more reps — by sending him to Low-A San Jose for the final month of the season. There, he understandably hit a bump in the road, slashing .231/.276/.319 for a .594 OPS and a 48 wRC+, with two home runs in 98 plate appearances and a 29.6% strikeout rate. But that’s no matter. Hernández was laughably young for the league (four years younger than his average peer), was dealing with a small ailment, and it was a small sample size … if you need reassurance, just know that Gavin Kilen posted a 58 wRC+ at the same level in his short stint there last year, after being drafted in the first round out of an SEC school at age 21.

Hernández will surely be back in San Jose to start 2027, and if he adjusts well to the league, there’s no telling how quickly — and emphatically — he can rise through the ranks of both the system and national prospect lists. His instincts, fundamentals, and bat control are truly elite, and he’s got far more pop than you would suspect from looking at him. The sky is the limit for Hernández!

Now let’s add to the list, and don’t forget that it’s nomination day!

The list so far

1. Josuar González — SS
2. Jackson Flora — RHP
3. Luis Hernández — SS

Note: Clicking on the above names will link to the CPL where they were voted onto the list.

No. 4 prospect nominees

JacobBresnahan — 21.4-year old LHP — 2.92 ERA/4.32 FIP in High-A (98.2 IP); 5.06 ERA/3.60 FIP in AA (16 IP)

BoDavidson — 24.3-year old OF — .861 OPS/122 wRC+ in AA (315 PA); .923 OPS/138 wRC+ in AAA (234 PA); .714 OPS/100 wRC+ in MLB (22 PA)

JhonnyLevel — 19.6-year old SS — .968 OPS/134 wRC+ in Low-A (217 PA); .836 OPS/119 wRC+ in High-A (331 PA)

RamonMarquez — 21.1-year old RHP — 1.86 ERA/2.67 FIP in Low-A (29 IP); 2.48 ERA/2.45 FIP in High-A (40 IP)

Note: Each player’s first name links to their Baseball-Reference page, and their last name links to their Fangraphs page.All stats are from the 2026 season.

Welbyn Francisca was just named to the AFL All-Star Game.

In other “news”, FOX News is worried that everybody in Arizona has to change their name to Welbyn now.

And the A’s hired a GM—a gent from the Brewers with NEOH connections.

The Nats released LGFT Zak Kent.

and MLB made a proposal

Future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols will interview for the Houston Astros’ managerial vacancy this week, a person with direct knowledge told USA TODAY Sports.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Astros have not publicly identified their managerial candidates, which also include New York Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus.

Pujols, who interviewed last year for the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres managerial vacancies, has expressed his strong desire to manage since his retirement after the 2022 season. He managed the Dominican Republic to third place in the 2026 World Baseball Classic and led Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League to the 2025 Caribbean Series championship.

“For me, I’ve always been serious about everything that I do in this game," Pujols told USA TODAY Sports in 2025, “and now I’m serious about managing. This game has done so much for me, and now, I want to give back. I’m ready.’’

If Pujols lands the job, it would reunite him with new Astros general manager Randy Flores, his former St. Louis Cardinals teammate, when they won the 2006 World Series together. Pujols, who becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028, would be the first 700-homer hitter to manage in the major leagues.

Flores would not confirm or deny that Pujols will be interviewed, but said Monday during his introductory press conference that he hopes to have an immediate resolution to fill their managerial opening.

“I think there are rules on tampering that don’t permit me to talk directly about employees from other organizations,” Flores said Monday. “I will say that I will lean on network, experience and expertise to help this club move forward.”

Pujols technically is still employed by the Angels. He is four years into a 10-year, $10 million personal services contract that was part of his 10-year, $240 million contract as a player.

“He’s ready," Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa, who managed Pujols 11 years in St. Louis, said last year. “And he’s going to be great. You talk about integrity. You talk about his IQ. You talk about his discipline. I call him APP, Albert Perfect Pujols. When a guy has that much to offer, and has so much love for the game, the game benefits when he wants to stay active and share."

The Astros and Angels are the only two teams that have a current managerial vacancy with the Seattle Mariners hiring Jason Kanzler on Monday, despite having no managerial experience at any level.

“I’d love the opportunity to give back to the game of baseball," Pujols said. “I know I don’t have the experience as a manager, but 23 years in this game, you go through a lot. I’m talking about experience from baseball, being on the field and in the locker room. It’s not going from a university to try to be a manager and not having any baseball experience. Old-school mentality can help young mentality.

“I’ve learned from some of the best managers in the game. I believe with my experience, and the way I can communicate with players, I can have success."

Before moving to the American League West in 2013, the Astros were NL Central rivals with Pujols' Cardinals. The teams met in the NL Championship Series in 2004 and 2005, with Pujols winning MVP in 2004 after batting .500 (14-for-28) with 4 HR and 9 RBIs in the seven-game series. The Cardinals lost in six games in 2005, but Pujols hit a legendary winning home run in the ninth inning of Game 5, which delayed Houston's first World Series trip.

Pujols' 1,265 career at-bats against the Astros are his most against any team in the regular season.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Could Astros hire Albert Pujols? Houston interviewing future Hall of Famer

Dodgers owner Mark Walter has been in sell mode in recent months.

This included him dealing the Lakers to Josh Kushner for $12.5 billion and reportedly wanting to put his Cadillac Formula 1 team up for sale for $3 billion.

The initial report of this from Sportico’s Kurt Badenhausen indicated there are at least seven interested parties for this potential F1 team purchase.

One of these involves the Red Sox, according to The Guardian’s Matt Hughes.

Specifically, one of these interested parties is FSG, which holds majority ownership stakes in the Red Sox and the Penguins’ NHL franchise.

FSG has a lot of money to spend after selling 38% of Liverpool to a consortium that included Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin this past summer.

Walter sold his 13% stake in Premier League club Chelsea and is reportedly looking to sell the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks franchise for $700 million.

Despite this, Walter has been clear about having no intention to sell the Dodgers, as he told the California Post last week.

Walter selling his F1 team is not guaranteed, nor is a potential sale to the Red Sox’s majority owners.

The Mets have been well represented during the Arizona Fall League, and two of their prospects were selected to participate in this year's Fall Stars Game. 

RHP's Ryan Lambert and Irving Cota have been to the NL Fall Stars squad. 

Lambert has bounced back tremendously from his down season at the Triple-A level, as he’s still yet to allow a run or hit through his first six Fall League appearances. 

The righty has also struck out 10 batters, while walking just four over that span. 

Carrying this strong showing right into big-league camp could go a long way towards Lambert helping himself in the competition for a Mets bullpen spot. 

As for Cota, the 22-year-old climbed up to Double-A with an exeptional start to the minor league season, but he ended up on the injured list and wouldn’t return to the mound until September. 

Upon season’s end, the organization decided that it would be best to send him to pitch in the Fall League to continue building up his workload heading into next year.

Cota has allowed seven runs (six earned) through his first five appearances, but he’s also struck out 15 batters and has an impressive 0.86 WHIP over that span. 

This year’s Fall Star game will take place Sunday on MLB Network. 

You may recall that calendar year 2020 featured a lot of unprecedented events through which we all got to live. Way, way down on that list of importance was the abbreviated 2020 Major League Baseball season, which ended up only being 60 games long and played in front of empty stadiums as the COVID pandemic raged across the world.

The pandemic impacted the 2020 MLB Draft, too. Though it was still managed to be pulled off during June per usual, it was agreed upon that the draft itself would be cut to just five rounds and instead of being held on-location in Omaha was held remotely.

Nailing your selections in the draft is hard enough under normal circumstances. Getting them correct in those circumstances, though, was probably a little bit tougher than we all could have even imagined.

The Detroit Tigers jumped for Arizona State 1B Spencer Torkelson with the #1 overall pick, and he’s carved out a big league career of some reasonable aplomb. The Baltimore Orioles selected Arkansas OF Heston Kjerstad with pick #2, and he officially reached free agency yesterday after being outrighted off their 40-man roster and clearing waivers with just -1.3 bWAR in 304 AB to his name.

There were a litany of ‘misses’ in this 1st round, and we can now officially chalk up the first selection by the Cincinnati Reds as one, too. With the #12 overall pick they took Austin Hendrick out of high school outside Pittsburgh, a ‘cold weather’ player who was already old for his class that sported plus power alongside a number of glaring red flags. Those red flags – notably his extreme swing and miss tendencies – dogged him through five minor league seasons with Cincinnati, and as Doug Gray of Redleg Nation noted this morning, Hendrick was one of 21 Reds minor leaguers who reached free agency when Cincinnati opted against adding them to their 40-man roster.

That cadre includes former big leaguers like Michael Chavis and Garrett Hampson, who’ve spent time in the big leagues off and on over various seasons. It also features Ivan Johnson, who spent time with the Reds towards the end of the 2026 regular season. More than anyone else, though, it’s closing the chapter on Hendrick that is the toughest pill to swallow in this particular wave.

What burns perhaps the most is that Hendrick, a lefty-swinging high school outfield bat, was the third of four such players that were selected in the 1st round in 2020. Both Robert Hassell and Zac Veen came off the board before Hendrick went at #12, and while neither has panned out so far in their own development, it was Pete Crow-Armstrong at pick #19 that was the fourth such lefty high school outfielder to be selected, and he is currently days away from winning the National League MVP Award on the back of a nearly 10 WAR season.

Hendrick’s Reds career, meanwhile, never actually happened. He reached AAA in 2026 after repeating multiple levels before it and posted just a .566 OPS in 58 games there despite the extreme offensive conditions at the time.